Counting neutrinos to per-mill accuracy. This Project aims to supply the most precise to-date calculation of a critical parameter in cosmology, the effective number of neutrinos, in the context of the standard model of particle physics. Crucial to the correct interpretation of cosmological observations, this parameter enables the reconstruction of the universe's timeline from which to infer its properties. The expected outcome is a number of 4-digit significance that can be used in all future co ....Counting neutrinos to per-mill accuracy. This Project aims to supply the most precise to-date calculation of a critical parameter in cosmology, the effective number of neutrinos, in the context of the standard model of particle physics. Crucial to the correct interpretation of cosmological observations, this parameter enables the reconstruction of the universe's timeline from which to infer its properties. The expected outcome is a number of 4-digit significance that can be used in all future cosmological computations/analyses. Besides raising Australia's international profile in basic science research, this project expects to provide significant societal benefits via the training of HDRs in advanced mathematical modelling and computing, transferable skills across many sectors.Read moreRead less
Top-quarks as a portal to new physics at the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to use data from a Large Hadron Collider experiment, ATLAS, to investigate basic questions in physics. The project expects to use innovative analysis techniques to test the current model of fundamental particles and interactions. While the model, now completed by the Higgs boson discovery, agrees well with observations it cannot be Nature's ultimate description. Expected outcomes include a sensitive investigati ....Top-quarks as a portal to new physics at the Large Hadron Collider. This project aims to use data from a Large Hadron Collider experiment, ATLAS, to investigate basic questions in physics. The project expects to use innovative analysis techniques to test the current model of fundamental particles and interactions. While the model, now completed by the Higgs boson discovery, agrees well with observations it cannot be Nature's ultimate description. Expected outcomes include a sensitive investigation of whether the highest energy particle collisions ever recorded hold evidence for a deeper theory. Significant benefits will be an advancement of fundamental knowledge, cutting-edge training of young scientists, strengthening of Australian participation in international science, and public engagement with science.Read moreRead less
An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of pub ....An Australian Program in Precision Flavour Physics. Particle physics is a breakthrough scientific endeavour, addressing fundamental questions about the nature of the laws that govern the Universe we live in. Through engaging in appropriately chosen collaborative experiments at the cutting edge of the field, Australian science can make leading contributions to a deepening understanding that flows from discoveries in this area. Excellent training of young Australian researchers, enhancement of public interest in science, and fostering of international cooperation and networking are all outcomes which this project will provide.Read moreRead less
Electroweak phase transition: A cosmological window to new particle physics. The observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the visible universe arguably represents the major challenge to contemporary particle physics and cosmology. This project explores new theoretical, phenomenological and computational aspects of the electroweak phase transition and the generation of the cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe together with their links to new physics that may manifes ....Electroweak phase transition: A cosmological window to new particle physics. The observed asymmetry between matter and antimatter in the visible universe arguably represents the major challenge to contemporary particle physics and cosmology. This project explores new theoretical, phenomenological and computational aspects of the electroweak phase transition and the generation of the cosmic matter-antimatter asymmetry in the early universe together with their links to new physics that may manifest at present and future high-energy colliders and gravitational wave observatories. Read moreRead less
New Physics and the quark/lepton family replication puzzle. This project aims to investigate how new physics impacts on the puzzling threefold replication of the elementary particles known as quarks and leptons; these particles provide the foundations for the structure of atoms. This theory project seeks to do so in the context of a concentrated worldwide experimental program whose objective is to produce hugely more information about the mysterious replication. Expected outcomes include the con ....New Physics and the quark/lepton family replication puzzle. This project aims to investigate how new physics impacts on the puzzling threefold replication of the elementary particles known as quarks and leptons; these particles provide the foundations for the structure of atoms. This theory project seeks to do so in the context of a concentrated worldwide experimental program whose objective is to produce hugely more information about the mysterious replication. Expected outcomes include the construction of new theories that deepen our understanding of elementary particles and their interactions. This should provide significant benefits to intellectual culture and the training of early-career researchers as flexible problem solvers able to innovate in any context in industry or government service.Read moreRead less
Rare decays of B mesons: Probing new physics with Belle II. This project aims to observe the decay of a B meson to a muon and a neutrino, a rare subatomic process. This will test understanding of the basic building blocks and forces of nature. If the measured and expected decay rates are different, this would be significant. The project also seeks to enhance Australia's role in a major physics experiment based in Japan. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of our place in the U ....Rare decays of B mesons: Probing new physics with Belle II. This project aims to observe the decay of a B meson to a muon and a neutrino, a rare subatomic process. This will test understanding of the basic building blocks and forces of nature. If the measured and expected decay rates are different, this would be significant. The project also seeks to enhance Australia's role in a major physics experiment based in Japan. This project will contribute to a deeper understanding of our place in the Universe.Read moreRead less
Antimatter and exotic mesons at the intensity frontier. This project aims to measure anti-proton and anti-neutron interactions in the calorimeter, a piece of equipment central to the Belle experiment in Japan. Antimatter is used every day in particle physics, but is not fully understood. The Belle dataset is large and directly applicable to the renewed Belle II experiment, due to commence in late 2018. The anticipated outcome is an improved ability to recognise different particles and measure th ....Antimatter and exotic mesons at the intensity frontier. This project aims to measure anti-proton and anti-neutron interactions in the calorimeter, a piece of equipment central to the Belle experiment in Japan. Antimatter is used every day in particle physics, but is not fully understood. The Belle dataset is large and directly applicable to the renewed Belle II experiment, due to commence in late 2018. The anticipated outcome is an improved ability to recognise different particles and measure their energies. This project is intended to contribute to Belle II, enhancing the experiment’s research outcomes, including understanding the matter-antimatter asymmetry of the Universe and the nature of exotic mesons.Read moreRead less
Scale invariance: A new paradigm for particle physics and cosmology. The origin of mass and mass hierarchies remains arguably the major unresolved problem in particle physics. This project aims to introduce and explore a conceptually new paradigm to address this problem by promoting scaling invariance as a fundamental symmetry of Nature. Namely, we will establish an entirely new realisation of quantum scale invariance within a theoretically consistent picture of the relativistic theory of gravit ....Scale invariance: A new paradigm for particle physics and cosmology. The origin of mass and mass hierarchies remains arguably the major unresolved problem in particle physics. This project aims to introduce and explore a conceptually new paradigm to address this problem by promoting scaling invariance as a fundamental symmetry of Nature. Namely, we will establish an entirely new realisation of quantum scale invariance within a theoretically consistent picture of the relativistic theory of gravitation and explore its phenomenological, cosmological and astrophysical implications. The anticipated results will likely lead to transformational advancements in particle physics and cosmology and serve as an important theoretical guide for new physics searches in ongoing and future experimental programs worldwide. Read moreRead less
A programme to study quarkonium-like states at ATLAS. Particle physics, the study of the fundamental building blocks of matter, has pioneered the use of large collaborations --- hundreds of scientists working in dozens of countries --- to solve difficult research problems. Australian groups have contributed to several such experiments, studying cosmic rays, neutrinos, and broken symmetries, as well as developing ATLAS, a vast experiment dedicated to understanding the origin of mass. This projec ....A programme to study quarkonium-like states at ATLAS. Particle physics, the study of the fundamental building blocks of matter, has pioneered the use of large collaborations --- hundreds of scientists working in dozens of countries --- to solve difficult research problems. Australian groups have contributed to several such experiments, studying cosmic rays, neutrinos, and broken symmetries, as well as developing ATLAS, a vast experiment dedicated to understanding the origin of mass. This project seeks to use ATLAS for a new purpose: searching for exotic mesons. Our existing commitment to ATLAS provides an opportunity to develop this as a new avenue of fundamental research in this country.Read moreRead less
Weighing neutrinos in the sky. This project aims to discover how the mass of the neutrino affects the evolution of the universe and to use observations of the universe to measure neutrino masses. The project will build a theoretical framework to describe the nonlinear dynamics of cosmological neutrinos. The intended outcome is a set of computational tools that could predict the signatures of neutrino masses in the sky as precisely as upcoming surveys, to discover neutrino masses in the next 10 y ....Weighing neutrinos in the sky. This project aims to discover how the mass of the neutrino affects the evolution of the universe and to use observations of the universe to measure neutrino masses. The project will build a theoretical framework to describe the nonlinear dynamics of cosmological neutrinos. The intended outcome is a set of computational tools that could predict the signatures of neutrino masses in the sky as precisely as upcoming surveys, to discover neutrino masses in the next 10 years. The project should raise Australia's international profile in basic physical science research and answer fundamental questions about the origin of matter, energy and the universe.Read moreRead less