Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and indus ....Australia’s first direct-detection dark matter search, at Stawell Gold Mine. This project aims to develop an underground integrated laboratory at Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria to host the Southern Hemisphere's first-ever direct-detection dark matter experiment. Following the Higgs boson discovery, the direct detection of dark matter is seen as the next major challenge for particle physics. This project sees Australian physicists team up with local and international partners in research and industry to join the search for dark matter. This Australian experiment aims to help to confirm or deny current results from Northern Hemisphere experiments. As the mine nears the end of its working life as a gold mine, this project is expected to benefit the local economy and provide opportunities for education and outreach.Read moreRead less
Computational methods in atomic collision theory. We will develop computational methods for solving interactions between particles on the atomic scale. Computational problems, of particular interest to the industry partner, are the treatment of large-scale ill-conditioned linear systems, and the extension of the Gaussian molecular structure package to collision physics. We have been world-leaders in the field of atomic collision theory for almost a decade, and now, utilising the latest software ....Computational methods in atomic collision theory. We will develop computational methods for solving interactions between particles on the atomic scale. Computational problems, of particular interest to the industry partner, are the treatment of large-scale ill-conditioned linear systems, and the extension of the Gaussian molecular structure package to collision physics. We have been world-leaders in the field of atomic collision theory for almost a decade, and now, utilising the latest software and hardware, will have the capacity to extend the numerical techniques to a vast range of collision systems of interest to science and industry, where visualisation and sheer computer power will play a major role in both
code development and production runs.Read moreRead less
Predicting Space Weather Using Solar Radio Bursts. Australia's scientific standing and expertise will be enhanced in the fields of space weather, space physics, plasma physics, and complex systems by the new prediction methods and scientific discoveries expected. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service reports to customers in defence (better communications) and satellite operations (improved survivability), industry (reduced infrastructure damage), and els ....Predicting Space Weather Using Solar Radio Bursts. Australia's scientific standing and expertise will be enhanced in the fields of space weather, space physics, plasma physics, and complex systems by the new prediction methods and scientific discoveries expected. Better predictions will increase the utility of Ionospheric Prediction Service reports to customers in defence (better communications) and satellite operations (improved survivability), industry (reduced infrastructure damage), and elsewhere. Australia's research base will be strengthened by high-level training of Research Associates and students, while its scientific infrastructure and role in international space efforts will be enhanced.Read moreRead less
Rare isotopes as tracers of prosthesis debris. The incidence of knee replacement surgery in Australia is 30,000 per year. Limited by wear debris, the lifespan of knee implants is only 10-15 years and can be much shorter. Due to increasing life expectancy, many patients need several surgical procedures. As a multi-disciplinary team of materials-, isotope-tracing- and medical-experts, we aim to understand and monitor wear debris in prostheses. Knee replacement surgery alone imposes a high burden o ....Rare isotopes as tracers of prosthesis debris. The incidence of knee replacement surgery in Australia is 30,000 per year. Limited by wear debris, the lifespan of knee implants is only 10-15 years and can be much shorter. Due to increasing life expectancy, many patients need several surgical procedures. As a multi-disciplinary team of materials-, isotope-tracing- and medical-experts, we aim to understand and monitor wear debris in prostheses. Knee replacement surgery alone imposes a high burden of annually half a billion dollars on the Australian health budget. Controlling and reducing wear debris in prosthesis joints would reduce these costs and improve patients' quality of life.Read moreRead less
Power scaling of remote plasma sources for gallium nitride film growth with real-time monitoring of activated nitrogen species. Domestic, industrial and community lighting currently accounts for ~20% of the world's overall energy consumption. Commonly used incandescent lights are based on inefficient, century-old technologies. In contrast, light emitting diodes (LEDs) use ~80% less energy and last ~100 times longer. LED deployment will bring substantial economic and environmental benefits for Au ....Power scaling of remote plasma sources for gallium nitride film growth with real-time monitoring of activated nitrogen species. Domestic, industrial and community lighting currently accounts for ~20% of the world's overall energy consumption. Commonly used incandescent lights are based on inefficient, century-old technologies. In contrast, light emitting diodes (LEDs) use ~80% less energy and last ~100 times longer. LED deployment will bring substantial economic and environmental benefits for Australia and globally. Next generation high-efficiency LEDs for lighting, will operate with reduced energy consumption, thus contributing to reaching future national targets for CO2 emission reduction. This project will achieve reduced production cost of a key LED material, and will support Australia's leadership in a growing global semiconductor manufacturing industry.Read moreRead less
Understanding molecular negative ion production for use in pathology. The project aims to increase the yield of molecular negative ion sources by improving our understanding of the formation of ion beams from plasma sources and expand our knowledge of molecular negative ion generation in plasma environments leading to brighter ion beams. For example, understanding cancer requires cellular level tools to map how cells are changing. These maps are made using ion beams which are scanned across cell ....Understanding molecular negative ion production for use in pathology. The project aims to increase the yield of molecular negative ion sources by improving our understanding of the formation of ion beams from plasma sources and expand our knowledge of molecular negative ion generation in plasma environments leading to brighter ion beams. For example, understanding cancer requires cellular level tools to map how cells are changing. These maps are made using ion beams which are scanned across cells to remove material that is analysed at the atomic and molecular level. Ion beams are produced from plasma sources, but much of their operation is not understood. Such improved ion beams are expected to enable inexpensive and fast cellular level pathology at even small hospitals to tackle cancer for society’s benefit.Read moreRead less
Space development of the HDLT Australian Plasma Thruster. The collaboration between the ANU research group and ASTRIUM/EADS, the largest European aerospace company, is a unique opportunity for Australia to capitalize on the new discovery of the Helicon Double Layer Thruster made at the ANU. This will allow the Australian space community to stay abreast of international developments in space propulsion and to be with the for-runners of this new technology.
ANU will have direct access to ASTRIUM ....Space development of the HDLT Australian Plasma Thruster. The collaboration between the ANU research group and ASTRIUM/EADS, the largest European aerospace company, is a unique opportunity for Australia to capitalize on the new discovery of the Helicon Double Layer Thruster made at the ANU. This will allow the Australian space community to stay abreast of international developments in space propulsion and to be with the for-runners of this new technology.
ANU will have direct access to ASTRIUM/EADS via the relationships developed in this project putting Australia in the enviable position of being an insider in future space developments concerning plasma thrusters and space technology in general.Read moreRead less
Lightweight battery with more yield than a tonne of coal. This project aims to develop a device that is capable of converting waste heat into useful energy. The project team’s recent breakthrough discovery of a new way to erase information is intended to allow the device to operate using a battery that contains low entropy rather than energy. A battery of this kind can, in principle, have yields that are many times higher than currently available energy sources. This project aims to design proof ....Lightweight battery with more yield than a tonne of coal. This project aims to develop a device that is capable of converting waste heat into useful energy. The project team’s recent breakthrough discovery of a new way to erase information is intended to allow the device to operate using a battery that contains low entropy rather than energy. A battery of this kind can, in principle, have yields that are many times higher than currently available energy sources. This project aims to design proof-of-principle demonstrations of the device and develop the supporting thermodynamical framework. The project aims to seed a new technology that has the potential to revolutionise the way energy is harnessed and used.Read moreRead less
A Cost-Effective System for Monitoring Lightning Strikes Across Australasia. Lightning causes many major fires in Australia, and rural fire managers would benefit from access to lighting data. Lightning data have been prohibitively expensive because acquiring them requires a dense monitoring network. Low Frequency Electromagnetic Research Ltd (LF*EM) has developed an alternative, cost-effective technology for monitoring lightning based on a sparse network of stations monitoring VLF radiation. We ....A Cost-Effective System for Monitoring Lightning Strikes Across Australasia. Lightning causes many major fires in Australia, and rural fire managers would benefit from access to lighting data. Lightning data have been prohibitively expensive because acquiring them requires a dense monitoring network. Low Frequency Electromagnetic Research Ltd (LF*EM) has developed an alternative, cost-effective technology for monitoring lightning based on a sparse network of stations monitoring VLF radiation. We propose to translate LF*EM's basic science results into a product that can deliver lightning data to fire managers and other users across Oceania.Read moreRead less
New ultraviolet light sources for the disinfection of drinking water and re-cycled waste-water. The disinfection of municipal drinking-water supplies and treatment of waste-water by exposure to high-power ultraviolet (UV) light is now a practical alternative to chlorination. UV light can kill or sterilize the micro-organisms that pose a health hazard through highly selective photo-biological reactions that disrupt the microbial DNA. The aim of this project is to research and develop new 'germici ....New ultraviolet light sources for the disinfection of drinking water and re-cycled waste-water. The disinfection of municipal drinking-water supplies and treatment of waste-water by exposure to high-power ultraviolet (UV) light is now a practical alternative to chlorination. UV light can kill or sterilize the micro-organisms that pose a health hazard through highly selective photo-biological reactions that disrupt the microbial DNA. The aim of this project is to research and develop new 'germicidal' UV light sources based on Barrier Discharge lamps, operating in novel excitation regimes, to yield high UV efficiency. Successful demonstration of the technology will provide solutions to the growing economic and environmental challenges relating to water conservation within Australia. Read moreRead less