Cosmology and astrophysics with neutrinos and other elementary particles. Particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics provide a major contribution to the scientific and intellectual culture of the nation, as they address some of the most important questions in physical science. The nation's international standing will benefit greatly from participation in these quintessentially Big Science activities. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in this proposal, ....Cosmology and astrophysics with neutrinos and other elementary particles. Particle physics, cosmology and astrophysics provide a major contribution to the scientific and intellectual culture of the nation, as they address some of the most important questions in physical science. The nation's international standing will benefit greatly from participation in these quintessentially Big Science activities. High achieving students are very excited by the research questions addressed in this proposal, so it will add significantly to the pool of highly-trained young Australians. They emerge as general problem solvers and flexible thinkers of high calibre in addition to becoming experts in particular areas. The big fundamental questions to be considered are also of great fascination to the general public.Read moreRead less
Neutrino physics: a window on physics beyond the standard model. The recent observation of neutrino oscillations demonstrates that neutrinos have a non-vanishing mass. This is not accomodated in our "standard model" of particle physics, which must therefore be extended. Clues has to how this extension is to be made are to be found in the pattern of masses and mixings, and in possible new interactions involving neutrinos. These clues will be examined to find a viable set of extensions of th ....Neutrino physics: a window on physics beyond the standard model. The recent observation of neutrino oscillations demonstrates that neutrinos have a non-vanishing mass. This is not accomodated in our "standard model" of particle physics, which must therefore be extended. Clues has to how this extension is to be made are to be found in the pattern of masses and mixings, and in possible new interactions involving neutrinos. These clues will be examined to find a viable set of extensions of the standard model.Read moreRead less
Dark Matter Discovery. Dark matter research is fundamental breakthrough science, thus its National and Community benefits can only be indirect. This, nevertheless, does not reduce the importance of these benefits. The proposed program strengthens Australian fundamental science by extending it in a new direction, and considerably boosts the quality of theoretical dark matter research in Australia. Since a large part of the proposed work is expected to be performed in international collaboratio ....Dark Matter Discovery. Dark matter research is fundamental breakthrough science, thus its National and Community benefits can only be indirect. This, nevertheless, does not reduce the importance of these benefits. The proposed program strengthens Australian fundamental science by extending it in a new direction, and considerably boosts the quality of theoretical dark matter research in Australia. Since a large part of the proposed work is expected to be performed in international collaboration, positive results will increase the Australian presence on the international astro-particle physics scene. Successful students involved in this project are also expected to assume leading roles in international dark matter research.Read moreRead less
Origins of our Universe. The present proposal will study the origins of our Universe, which is one of the grand challenges of 21st century physics. As such it will utilise insights and discoveries in many areas of physics, ranging from string theory and particle physics at the highest energies, to x-ray, optical and radio astronomy. The research program will add to our understanding of a fundamental branch of science - extending it in new directions - thereby considerably boosting the quality of ....Origins of our Universe. The present proposal will study the origins of our Universe, which is one of the grand challenges of 21st century physics. As such it will utilise insights and discoveries in many areas of physics, ranging from string theory and particle physics at the highest energies, to x-ray, optical and radio astronomy. The research program will add to our understanding of a fundamental branch of science - extending it in new directions - thereby considerably boosting the quality of cosmology and theoretical physics research in Australia. In concert with our international collaborations, work arising from this fellowship will enhance the Australian presence on the international cosmology, astro-particle, and theoretical physics scene.
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High energy neutrino astrophysics together with accretion flows into black holes. Neutrinos are very weakly interacting elementary particles that are opening a new view on astrophysical objects such as supernovae and active galactic nuclei (neutrino astronomy). Studies of astrophysical neutrino production, propagation and terrestrial detection will be made. This will shed light on the astrophysics of the sources as well as probing propagation effects such as neutrino oscillations. A distinct pro ....High energy neutrino astrophysics together with accretion flows into black holes. Neutrinos are very weakly interacting elementary particles that are opening a new view on astrophysical objects such as supernovae and active galactic nuclei (neutrino astronomy). Studies of astrophysical neutrino production, propagation and terrestrial detection will be made. This will shed light on the astrophysics of the sources as well as probing propagation effects such as neutrino oscillations. A distinct programme will study a large discrepancy in the energy balance for matter accreting into a black hole. Previous work of Buzzi and Hines will be extended to investigate whether plasma wave energy carried into the black hole can explain the discrepancy. Read moreRead less
Nucleosynthesis of low and intermediate mass stars: A study into the origin of the elements. Everything in our Solar System, including the Sun and all life on Earth, were created out of material forged long ago in fiery stellar furnaces. In the hot dense cores of long dead stars the material most vital to life was created. However, the stellar origin of many elements is unknown although we can make guesses, from observations of stars and by bringing together ideas from different scientific fiel ....Nucleosynthesis of low and intermediate mass stars: A study into the origin of the elements. Everything in our Solar System, including the Sun and all life on Earth, were created out of material forged long ago in fiery stellar furnaces. In the hot dense cores of long dead stars the material most vital to life was created. However, the stellar origin of many elements is unknown although we can make guesses, from observations of stars and by bringing together ideas from different scientific fields including astrophysics, nuclear physics and geochemistry. Using the latest theoretical techniques together with the most recent experimental data, it is possible to piece together the clues
to unravel the mystery of the origin of the elements.
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The Early History of Dark Energy. The national benefit will be the inclusion of Australian researchers (Glazebrook and his students/postdocs) in a major UK-Japanese international research project to study dark energy. This will be the successor to the highly successful WiggleZ project (on which Glazebrook is a designer and CI) using the much larger mirror of Subaru to push back the mapping of cosmic sound to much earlier epochs in the history of the Universe. Although Australia built parts of th ....The Early History of Dark Energy. The national benefit will be the inclusion of Australian researchers (Glazebrook and his students/postdocs) in a major UK-Japanese international research project to study dark energy. This will be the successor to the highly successful WiggleZ project (on which Glazebrook is a designer and CI) using the much larger mirror of Subaru to push back the mapping of cosmic sound to much earlier epochs in the history of the Universe. Although Australia built parts of the FMOS instrument (under contract) there is currently no national right of access to any of the science surveys so it is only by developing these collaborations that we can capitalize on our innovative instrument design.Read moreRead less
Complex plasmas: self-organized dusty matter from nanotechnology to astrophysics. The importance of complex plasmas is based on their intricate self-organized behaviour, on their rich variety in nature and extensive use in the laboratory and advanced technologies. This project aims at breakthrough results advancing the fundamental knowledge and contributing to frontier technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanotechnology as well as reliability of space technological systems and communication ....Complex plasmas: self-organized dusty matter from nanotechnology to astrophysics. The importance of complex plasmas is based on their intricate self-organized behaviour, on their rich variety in nature and extensive use in the laboratory and advanced technologies. This project aims at breakthrough results advancing the fundamental knowledge and contributing to frontier technologies such as nanoelectronics and nanotechnology as well as reliability of space technological systems and communications. The project will boost fundamental and applied aspects of the Australian science as well as international collaborative links of Australian research and technology by allowing access and involvement to advanced multi-national programs and high-profile experiments such as those on board the International Space Station.Read moreRead less
High-energy probes of dense matter and distorted spacetime. This is an ambitious but achievable program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes have the potential to alter our understanding of fundamental physics, and will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, althou ....High-energy probes of dense matter and distorted spacetime. This is an ambitious but achievable program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes have the potential to alter our understanding of fundamental physics, and will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. The international collaborations that this project will build and maintain will help to improve access to, and utilisation of, multi-million dollar international satellite observatories by local observers.Read moreRead less
Fundamental Physics from Accreting Neutron Stars. This is a bold and novel program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. This DP will boost the multiwavelength ....Fundamental Physics from Accreting Neutron Stars. This is a bold and novel program with the potential for results which will be highly significant to physicists worldwide. The expected outcomes will demonstrate that Australia's high-energy research ability is on par with the world's best. The techniques of X-ray astronomy are increasingly a standard part of the professional astronomer's toolkit, although Australia has a limited track record in recent years. This DP will boost the multiwavelength capability of local astronomers by attracting a talented postdoc with experience in X-ray astronomy to Australia, as well as supporting a broader effort to transfer such skills to local students and researchers.Read moreRead less