Fundamental tests of Quantum Mechanics with the Atom Laser. This is high profile scientific research that is important to Australia's standing in the world scientific community. Atom optics was singled out as a key area of Australian science through the formation of the ARC Centre for Quantum Atom Optics in 2003, and is in the Breakthrough Science category of the Frontier Technologies priority funding area. The experimental schemes developed in this proposal contribute to the already strong expe ....Fundamental tests of Quantum Mechanics with the Atom Laser. This is high profile scientific research that is important to Australia's standing in the world scientific community. Atom optics was singled out as a key area of Australian science through the formation of the ARC Centre for Quantum Atom Optics in 2003, and is in the Breakthrough Science category of the Frontier Technologies priority funding area. The experimental schemes developed in this proposal contribute to the already strong experimental atom optics research in Australia. In order to remain at the forefront of fundamental physics research, Australia must maintain a world-class research effort in this area. Read moreRead less
Quantum computing with trapped ions. Computers are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offers new and revolutionary solutions to limitations of current computers by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Our research is focused on improving the speed, size and reliability of ion-trap quantum computers. Small ion-trap quantum computers have already ....Quantum computing with trapped ions. Computers are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offers new and revolutionary solutions to limitations of current computers by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Our research is focused on improving the speed, size and reliability of ion-trap quantum computers. Small ion-trap quantum computers have already been demonstrated and a clear roadmap exists toward large-scale quantum computation.Read moreRead less
Ebb and flow of superfluids: Bose-Einstein condensates far from equilibrium. We will develop and test a new theory to describe the dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and gain insight into the physics of coherence, turbulence, and phase transitions. This proposal will strengthen Australia's reputation for excellence in the field of ultra-cold gases, and develop significant international linkages in this important area of physics. We will train a number of students in high-level problem ....Ebb and flow of superfluids: Bose-Einstein condensates far from equilibrium. We will develop and test a new theory to describe the dynamics of Bose-Einstein condensates (BECs), and gain insight into the physics of coherence, turbulence, and phase transitions. This proposal will strengthen Australia's reputation for excellence in the field of ultra-cold gases, and develop significant international linkages in this important area of physics. We will train a number of students in high-level problem solving and computing, transferrable skills ever more important in Australia's growing knowledge-based economy. Improved understanding of how BECs behave will assist in their development as sensitive measurement devices, with possible intellectual property benefits in the future as we learn to tame these unique systems.Read moreRead less
Nonlinear dynamics and chaos in Bose-Einstein Condensates on atom chips. The field of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) has recently seen some remarkable achievements. Researchers are now able to produce and
manipulate BECs in magnetic microtraps formed by current carrying wires patterned onto a substrate (atom chip). This project extends work in this field to the investigation of physics at the quantum/classical boundary through the study of the dynamics of BECs on atom chips. By probing a no ....Nonlinear dynamics and chaos in Bose-Einstein Condensates on atom chips. The field of Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) has recently seen some remarkable achievements. Researchers are now able to produce and
manipulate BECs in magnetic microtraps formed by current carrying wires patterned onto a substrate (atom chip). This project extends work in this field to the investigation of physics at the quantum/classical boundary through the study of the dynamics of BECs on atom chips. By probing a nonlinear system with a BEC we will examine how the quantum mechanics affects classically chaotic dynamics. We will also examine the classically forbidden phenomena of dynamical tunnelling and localisation.Read moreRead less
A Photonic Interconnect for Trapped Ion Quantum Computing. Computer networks are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offer revolutionary solutions to current limitations by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Quantum encryption offers completely secure communication. There have been small-scale demonstrations of these technologies, and clear roa ....A Photonic Interconnect for Trapped Ion Quantum Computing. Computer networks are the foundation of our digital economy. Quantum computing offer revolutionary solutions to current limitations by taking advantage of quantum physics. Methods for factoring large numbers or searching unordered databases run with significantly fewer operations on quantum computers. Quantum encryption offers completely secure communication. There have been small-scale demonstrations of these technologies, and clear roadmaps exist for large-scale implementations. We will advance the state of the art by interconnecting light based quantum communication and trapped ion quantum computing together with phase Fresnel lenses, a micro-fabricated optic similar to a computer generated holographic plate.Read moreRead less
Attosecond physics with ultra cold metastable neon. This research will generate new knowledge about how atoms behave when they are placed in strong optical fields. One of the phenomena which can be observed in these systems is the production of extreme ultraviolet radiation. This radiation has potential applications in areas as diverse as precision spectroscopy and structural biology. The research will use the recently ARC funded, state-of-the-art short pulse laser facility, ultra-cold atom trap ....Attosecond physics with ultra cold metastable neon. This research will generate new knowledge about how atoms behave when they are placed in strong optical fields. One of the phenomena which can be observed in these systems is the production of extreme ultraviolet radiation. This radiation has potential applications in areas as diverse as precision spectroscopy and structural biology. The research will use the recently ARC funded, state-of-the-art short pulse laser facility, ultra-cold atom trap technology and will provide excellent research training opportunities for higher degree students. The outcomes of the research project will enable Australian researchers to make significant contributions to the exciting field of attosecond science which is still in its infancy.
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Generation and Application of Ultracold Molecules. This project will extend the techniques of laser trapping and cooling of neutral atoms to produce ensembles of ultracold molecules, specifically Rb2. The starting point will be a cold sample of atoms, followed by the photoassociative formation of ultracold molecules. The ultracold molecules will be collected in a far-detuned optical dipole trap, and subsequently probed using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. This unique combination of femt ....Generation and Application of Ultracold Molecules. This project will extend the techniques of laser trapping and cooling of neutral atoms to produce ensembles of ultracold molecules, specifically Rb2. The starting point will be a cold sample of atoms, followed by the photoassociative formation of ultracold molecules. The ultracold molecules will be collected in a far-detuned optical dipole trap, and subsequently probed using femtosecond time-resolved spectroscopy. This unique combination of femtosecond spectroscopy with ultraslow molecules will extend the study of chemical processes to an entirely new temperature regime, leading to a new understanding of the quantum nature of chemical reactions.Read moreRead less
Superfluidity and metrology with ring shaped Bose-Einstein condensates. This proposal will answer a fundamental question about superfluidity, expanding our understanding of quantum many-particle systems. Australia excels in the fields of ultra-cold gases and quantum physics, and this proposal will further strengthen our international standing in these flagship areas of modern physics. The project will train a number of students in high-level technology and computing skills that are in high deman ....Superfluidity and metrology with ring shaped Bose-Einstein condensates. This proposal will answer a fundamental question about superfluidity, expanding our understanding of quantum many-particle systems. Australia excels in the fields of ultra-cold gases and quantum physics, and this proposal will further strengthen our international standing in these flagship areas of modern physics. The project will train a number of students in high-level technology and computing skills that are in high demand in our growing knowledge-based economy. Improved understanding of how Bose-Einstein condensates behave will assist in their development as sensitive measurement devices, with possible intellectual property benefits in the future as we learn to tame these unique systems.Read moreRead less
Integrated Atom Optics: Guiding Matter Waves with Magnetic Microstructures. The development of micron-scale waveguides that coherently transport, split and recombine atom de Broglie waves is important for atom optics and interferometry. Atom interferometers will be used for fundamental tests of quantum physics and as inertial sensors for the detection of gravitational anomalies. The expected outcomes include microfabrication of integrated atom devices that produce coherent matter waves via Bose- ....Integrated Atom Optics: Guiding Matter Waves with Magnetic Microstructures. The development of micron-scale waveguides that coherently transport, split and recombine atom de Broglie waves is important for atom optics and interferometry. Atom interferometers will be used for fundamental tests of quantum physics and as inertial sensors for the detection of gravitational anomalies. The expected outcomes include microfabrication of integrated atom devices that produce coherent matter waves via Bose-Einstein condensation and utilise them in a new generation of atom interferometers.Read moreRead less
Australian Centre for Quantum-Atom Optics. The Centre will combine pre-eminent Australian theoretical and experimental research groups in quantum and atom optics to create a powerful network to advance the rapidly developing field of Quantum-Atom Optics. We will exploit the quantum nature of multiple particle quantum states of atoms and photons including entangled light and Bose-Einstein condensates. The Centre will focus on fundamental research, but our long term goal is to underpin and develo ....Australian Centre for Quantum-Atom Optics. The Centre will combine pre-eminent Australian theoretical and experimental research groups in quantum and atom optics to create a powerful network to advance the rapidly developing field of Quantum-Atom Optics. We will exploit the quantum nature of multiple particle quantum states of atoms and photons including entangled light and Bose-Einstein condensates. The Centre will focus on fundamental research, but our long term goal is to underpin and develop the next generation quantum technology. We aim to build a quantum toolbox to enable applications such as the transfer and storage of information for photonics, and precision quantum control of atoms for enhanced atom interferometry.Read moreRead less