Development of a neutral helium beam microscope. This project would demonstrate Australia's capability in developing leading edge technologies applicable to the growing nanotechnology industry. The development of a neutral helium beam microscope brings into Australia expertise in the emerging field of molecular optics, and would place Australia as one of the first countries to make a commitment to this field. The project will develop a prototype instrument which is aimed at becoming a commercial ....Development of a neutral helium beam microscope. This project would demonstrate Australia's capability in developing leading edge technologies applicable to the growing nanotechnology industry. The development of a neutral helium beam microscope brings into Australia expertise in the emerging field of molecular optics, and would place Australia as one of the first countries to make a commitment to this field. The project will develop a prototype instrument which is aimed at becoming a commercially viable product - the neutral helium beam microscope. The possibilities of using the microscope system as a nanofabrication device would also give researchers in Australia the ability to fabricate structures that could not be manufactured anywhere else in the world.Read moreRead less
Quantum states of matter: from spin liquids to superconductors. Condensed matter physics has produced the technologies and materials that fuelled the digital and communications revolution. The scientific importance of condensed matter physics is indicated by the fact that ten Nobel prizes have been awarded for work in this field since 1990. This proposal brings together world leading chemists, experimental physicists and theoretical physicists from Australia, USA and UK to work on highly interdi ....Quantum states of matter: from spin liquids to superconductors. Condensed matter physics has produced the technologies and materials that fuelled the digital and communications revolution. The scientific importance of condensed matter physics is indicated by the fact that ten Nobel prizes have been awarded for work in this field since 1990. This proposal brings together world leading chemists, experimental physicists and theoretical physicists from Australia, USA and UK to work on highly interdisciplinary projects designed to discover how quantum mechanics leads to the novel properties of chemically complex materials. Such materials will be of central importance to the technologies of the future such as computer memories and the superconducting magnets in hospital MRI machines.Read moreRead less
Strongly correlated electron models for organic superconductors. In conventional metals such as copper the interactions between the electrons do not qualitively change the behaviour of the material. However, over the last few decades many materials have been discovered whose behaviours are dominated by the interactions between electrons. These 'strongly correlated' materials include technologically important materials used in power distribution, catalysis and plastic display technologies. This p ....Strongly correlated electron models for organic superconductors. In conventional metals such as copper the interactions between the electrons do not qualitively change the behaviour of the material. However, over the last few decades many materials have been discovered whose behaviours are dominated by the interactions between electrons. These 'strongly correlated' materials include technologically important materials used in power distribution, catalysis and plastic display technologies. This project will combine theoretical and experimental methods from chemistry and physics in an effort to explain the novel behaviours seen in certain classes of organic strongly correlated materials. This understanding has the potential to impact future electronic devices and advanced materials.Read moreRead less
Spin-liquids, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in organic charge transfer salts: synthesis, neutron scattering and theory. Materials have driven the digital revolution. Understanding and controlling silicon has allowed us to make smaller devices that perform better; an iPhone has more computing power than a PC had ten years ago. For this remarkable trend to continue future devices will need to utilise novel physics and be made from new materials. We will grow crystals of organic molecul ....Spin-liquids, antiferromagnetism, and superconductivity in organic charge transfer salts: synthesis, neutron scattering and theory. Materials have driven the digital revolution. Understanding and controlling silicon has allowed us to make smaller devices that perform better; an iPhone has more computing power than a PC had ten years ago. For this remarkable trend to continue future devices will need to utilise novel physics and be made from new materials. We will grow crystals of organic molecules, whose properties derive from the correlated motion of the electrons in these materials. State-of-the-art 'neutron scattering' experiments will test theories of the way the electrons behave in these materials. We will answer fundamental questions, which is an important first step towards harnessing such effects for future technology.Read moreRead less
Fluctuations in the properties of nonequilibrium fluids and the influence of thermostatting mechanisms. The behaviour of nonequilibrium fluids will be studied by combining ideas from liquid state theory, statistical mechanics and dynamical systems theory. This work will result in development and testing of mathematical expressions (Fluctuation Theorems) that are consistent with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which determines the direction of any change in any macroscopic system, but are also ....Fluctuations in the properties of nonequilibrium fluids and the influence of thermostatting mechanisms. The behaviour of nonequilibrium fluids will be studied by combining ideas from liquid state theory, statistical mechanics and dynamical systems theory. This work will result in development and testing of mathematical expressions (Fluctuation Theorems) that are consistent with the Second Law of Thermodynamics, which determines the direction of any change in any macroscopic system, but are also applicable to microscopic systems. The expressions will determine the probability that finite sized systems will violate the Second Law for small periods of time and will therefore contribute to development of a fundamental understanding of microscopic systems and the development of nanotechnology.
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Fluid properties and chaotic dynamics in equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. Over the last decade a revolution has been taking place in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics [Physics Today, Sept, 2002]. This revolution is characterized by adapting the mathematical theory of chaos to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Fundamental new theorems and algorithms for computing transport coefficients have been derived. The CIs have played a key role in this revolution. We seek to broaden these dev ....Fluid properties and chaotic dynamics in equilibrium and nonequilibrium states. Over the last decade a revolution has been taking place in nonequilibrium statistical mechanics [Physics Today, Sept, 2002]. This revolution is characterized by adapting the mathematical theory of chaos to nonequilibrium statistical mechanics. Fundamental new theorems and algorithms for computing transport coefficients have been derived. The CIs have played a key role in this revolution. We seek to broaden these developments by: generalizing a theorem which relates transport coefficients to chaoticity; detailed studies of the influence of thermostatting mechanisms on nonequilibrium chaoticity and fluctuations, and by understanding the range of applicability of a nonequilibrium fluctuation theorem for non-isoenergetic systems.Read moreRead less
Understanding cohesive forces in nanosystems. This theory project will provide basic scientific and modelling/computational support for a number of emerging technologies such as clean energy, and advanced materials and textiles (both CSIRO research areas). Other possible application areas are assembly of arrays of nanotube-based mechanical or electronic devices (e.g. single electron transistor arrays for quantum computer readout), and medical imaging and drug delivery via nano-sized magnetic pa ....Understanding cohesive forces in nanosystems. This theory project will provide basic scientific and modelling/computational support for a number of emerging technologies such as clean energy, and advanced materials and textiles (both CSIRO research areas). Other possible application areas are assembly of arrays of nanotube-based mechanical or electronic devices (e.g. single electron transistor arrays for quantum computer readout), and medical imaging and drug delivery via nano-sized magnetic particles. This last application is a strong growth area worldwide, with several Australian groups already participating. The project will train postgraduate students and a postdoctoral researcher. It will connect Australian scientists with a European Network of Excellence.Read moreRead less
Quantum coherence of electronic transport in layered magnetoresistive materials. The continued rapid expansion of information technology requires new materials and devices for information storage. State of the art computer memories are based on new materials which consist of layers of complex arrays of atoms. These materials have metallic properties quite unlike those of simple metals such as copper and steel. This research will lead to a greater understanding of and ability to design better ma ....Quantum coherence of electronic transport in layered magnetoresistive materials. The continued rapid expansion of information technology requires new materials and devices for information storage. State of the art computer memories are based on new materials which consist of layers of complex arrays of atoms. These materials have metallic properties quite unlike those of simple metals such as copper and steel. This research will lead to a greater understanding of and ability to design better materials. Australia's capacity for research and development in this scientifically challenging and technologically important field will be enhanced by this project. Read moreRead less
Sensing single electrons with single molecules. The focus of this project is on optical detection of single electron transport in solids and in large/bio molecules. Successful experimental demonstration of the proposed technique will considerably enhance Australia's standing in high profile areas of natural sciences. In practical terms, it can contribute to development of new generation solar cells, artificial photosynthetic centres, and a new generation of nanoprobes for biomedical application ....Sensing single electrons with single molecules. The focus of this project is on optical detection of single electron transport in solids and in large/bio molecules. Successful experimental demonstration of the proposed technique will considerably enhance Australia's standing in high profile areas of natural sciences. In practical terms, it can contribute to development of new generation solar cells, artificial photosynthetic centres, and a new generation of nanoprobes for biomedical applications. Because the single-molecule technique is a new and dynamic field, opportunities exist for significant commercial property development. The project will also train a number of students in several fields of high technology, all of which are likely to have high demand in the future.Read moreRead less
Algebraic approach to exactly soluble models for disordered systems. In nanoscience there are a diverse range of systems in which disorder, randomness, or noise can play a significant role. Examples range from quantum wires to qubits to unzipping DNA.
Even the simplest mathematical models for systems in the presence of disorder have a rich mathematical structure because they can be formulated in terms of Lie algrebras or diffusion on a curved surface.
The complementary physical and mathem ....Algebraic approach to exactly soluble models for disordered systems. In nanoscience there are a diverse range of systems in which disorder, randomness, or noise can play a significant role. Examples range from quantum wires to qubits to unzipping DNA.
Even the simplest mathematical models for systems in the presence of disorder have a rich mathematical structure because they can be formulated in terms of Lie algrebras or diffusion on a curved surface.
The complementary physical and mathematical expertise of the two Chief Investigators is crucial to this project.Read moreRead less