Advanced Quantum Sensors for Next-Generation Sensing Applications. The aim of this theoretical physics project is to develop ultra-precise sensing capabilities for two main applications: ultrastable inertial sensors for improved navigation and gravimetry, and to search for signatures of quantum gravity. This project expects to improve the performance of quantum sensors via the use of machine optimisation, and may lead to much-needed experimental data to help guide one of the most challenging pro ....Advanced Quantum Sensors for Next-Generation Sensing Applications. The aim of this theoretical physics project is to develop ultra-precise sensing capabilities for two main applications: ultrastable inertial sensors for improved navigation and gravimetry, and to search for signatures of quantum gravity. This project expects to improve the performance of quantum sensors via the use of machine optimisation, and may lead to much-needed experimental data to help guide one of the most challenging problems in theoretical physics: the quantisation of gravity. The expected outcomes of this project are enhanced quantum sensor design, leading to improved inertial sensing technology. This should provide benefits such as improved capabilities for minerals exploration and monitoring the movement of ground water.Read moreRead less
Controlling spin coherence with rotation. This project aims to harness the ability to control the fundamental interactions which limit the precision of a diamond quantum sensor, enabling more sensitive magnetometry. Quantum sensors are unveiling new insights into nano-scale phenomena. Single atom defects in diamonds have been at the forefront of this revolution in nano-scale sensor technology. A unique capability, spinning diamond quantum sensors at up to 500,000 rpm, fast enough that quantum pr ....Controlling spin coherence with rotation. This project aims to harness the ability to control the fundamental interactions which limit the precision of a diamond quantum sensor, enabling more sensitive magnetometry. Quantum sensors are unveiling new insights into nano-scale phenomena. Single atom defects in diamonds have been at the forefront of this revolution in nano-scale sensor technology. A unique capability, spinning diamond quantum sensors at up to 500,000 rpm, fast enough that quantum properties of the defects are preserved during a cycle has been established. This project will address the long-standing problem of nano-scale solid-materials characterisation using rotationally-enhanced quantum magnetic resonance spectroscopy.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE220101548
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$415,000.00
Summary
Calming the Superfluid Storm: Taming Turbulence in Superfluid Devices. Turbulence, the chaotic flow of fluids, occurs in the vast majority of fluid flows in nature. This project aims to develop a new understanding of turbulence in superfluids, a class of quantum fluids which can flow without friction. The significance is that aspects of turbulence are universal, so that discoveries in superfluid turbulence will provide fundamental insights into all forms of turbulence. The expected outcomes are ....Calming the Superfluid Storm: Taming Turbulence in Superfluid Devices. Turbulence, the chaotic flow of fluids, occurs in the vast majority of fluid flows in nature. This project aims to develop a new understanding of turbulence in superfluids, a class of quantum fluids which can flow without friction. The significance is that aspects of turbulence are universal, so that discoveries in superfluid turbulence will provide fundamental insights into all forms of turbulence. The expected outcomes are solutions to two outstanding questions – what are the universal laws of turbulent flow for superfluids, and what new forms of quantum vortex matter are possible? New insights into turbulence will benefit all applications which rely on its understanding, for example in medicine, aviation, and climate modelling.Read moreRead less
Creating high flux degenerate quantum atomic sources with active feedback. This project aims to deliver a new technique for cooling dilute ultracold gases, which are rapidly transitioning from a fundamental physics platform to a building block for quantum technology. This technique is measurement-based feedback cooling. Unlike the current evaporative methods, feedback cooling neither loses atoms, nor relies on elastic collisions or internal atomic structure. This opens up the possibility of dire ....Creating high flux degenerate quantum atomic sources with active feedback. This project aims to deliver a new technique for cooling dilute ultracold gases, which are rapidly transitioning from a fundamental physics platform to a building block for quantum technology. This technique is measurement-based feedback cooling. Unlike the current evaporative methods, feedback cooling neither loses atoms, nor relies on elastic collisions or internal atomic structure. This opens up the possibility of directly cooling traditionally un-coolable systems. This project will expand the quality and range of available atomic sources, benefitting research into exotic materials, and improving precision sensor applications. Quantum sensors are rapidly reforming our image of what a sensor is and what it can do, offering unprecedented opportunities in sensor fusion, and directly impacting business opportunities in mineral exploration, mapping and navigation.Read moreRead less
Enhancing gravitational wave detector sensitivity and bandwidth for astronomy. This project aims to create small optomechanical devices that amplify the signals in gravitational wave detectors, increasing their sensitivity, especially for higher frequency signals. Calibrated against the 2015 first detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers, this technology could allow humanity to listen to black holes merging up to 30 times every day, while giving much greater sensitivity to signal ....Enhancing gravitational wave detector sensitivity and bandwidth for astronomy. This project aims to create small optomechanical devices that amplify the signals in gravitational wave detectors, increasing their sensitivity, especially for higher frequency signals. Calibrated against the 2015 first detection of gravitational waves from black hole mergers, this technology could allow humanity to listen to black holes merging up to 30 times every day, while giving much greater sensitivity to signals from smaller black holes and neutron stars. The new technology, which uses nano-scale suspended tiny mirrors controlled by laser light, is likely to have applications in making sensors and quantum devices for advanced instrumentation, improve mineral exploration and measure tiny electromagnetic signals.Read moreRead less
An efficient optical interconnect for superconducting quantum computers. This project aims to develop the technology to connect superconducting quantum computers to the future quantum internet: an optical interconnect. Superconducting qubits are a leading quantum computing system, but their practical use is limited by their microwave operation frequency, as global quantum networks will operate at optical frequencies. This project aims to solve this problem by converting the microwave photons tha ....An efficient optical interconnect for superconducting quantum computers. This project aims to develop the technology to connect superconducting quantum computers to the future quantum internet: an optical interconnect. Superconducting qubits are a leading quantum computing system, but their practical use is limited by their microwave operation frequency, as global quantum networks will operate at optical frequencies. This project aims to solve this problem by converting the microwave photons that carry superconducting quantum information to optical photons. To achieve high efficiency the project will investigate magnetically ordered rare-earth crystals, which uniquely possess the strong optical and microwave coupling required, to build a converter that could greatly enhance the capabilities of quantum computers.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210100848
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$437,299.00
Summary
Quantum control of sound with light. This project aims to build the first photonic architecture capable of controlling the quantum properties of acoustic waves travelling in crystalline materials and quantum fluids. This level of control is expected to herald new capabilities in sensing applications, quantum information and quantum computing. The project seeks to develop a silicon-based photonic platform that enables the preparation of non-classical states of sound within superfluid helium. This ....Quantum control of sound with light. This project aims to build the first photonic architecture capable of controlling the quantum properties of acoustic waves travelling in crystalline materials and quantum fluids. This level of control is expected to herald new capabilities in sensing applications, quantum information and quantum computing. The project seeks to develop a silicon-based photonic platform that enables the preparation of non-classical states of sound within superfluid helium. This new platform will also be used to develop an ultra-compact silicon-chip based laser. The project outcomes should provide a deeper understanding of quantum fluids and quantum mechanics, and enable the realisation of new quantum technologies with substantial commercialisation potential.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE190100318
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$368,554.00
Summary
Superfluid optomechanics with quantised vortices. This project aims to develop new technologies to probe and control the flow of superfluid helium at size-scales never before possible. Superfluid helium is the only quantum liquid, characterised by flow without dissipation and quantised vortices. Leveraging the techniques of cavity optomechanics, this project aims to demonstrate control of superfluid helium properties at the quantum level, including the first demonstration of laser-cooling of a l ....Superfluid optomechanics with quantised vortices. This project aims to develop new technologies to probe and control the flow of superfluid helium at size-scales never before possible. Superfluid helium is the only quantum liquid, characterised by flow without dissipation and quantised vortices. Leveraging the techniques of cavity optomechanics, this project aims to demonstrate control of superfluid helium properties at the quantum level, including the first demonstration of laser-cooling of a liquid into its quantum ground-state. The devices developed in this project will also serve as probes of unprecedented sensitivity for the study of 2D superfluid helium. The new technologies developed will have potential for broad uptake in the scientific community and generation of intellectual property and patents for quantum technology and inertial sensors.Read moreRead less
Australian Laureate Fellowships - Grant ID: FL210100045
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$3,245,263.00
Summary
Energy-efficient artificial intelligence using quantum technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming society but standard technologies come with significant hidden costs: training even a single, common, learning model can emit 5 times more carbon dioxide than the lifetime emissions of the average car. This Fellowship aims to develop artificial intelligence platforms using Australia’s significant investment in quantum technologies to bypass traditional approaches to AI. The expected ....Energy-efficient artificial intelligence using quantum technologies. Artificial intelligence (AI) is transforming society but standard technologies come with significant hidden costs: training even a single, common, learning model can emit 5 times more carbon dioxide than the lifetime emissions of the average car. This Fellowship aims to develop artificial intelligence platforms using Australia’s significant investment in quantum technologies to bypass traditional approaches to AI. The expected outcomes are neuromorphic computers that operate efficiently—with low-energy cost—and rapidly—achieving speeds impossible with conventional electronic approaches. The anticipated benefits are transformative technologies for AI, new applications across society, and new tools for exploring brain function and cognition.Read moreRead less
Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent co ....Single spin molecular microscope. This project aims to create a new tool for imaging and analysing material at the atomic level. The tool is based on individual quantum coherent spins in diamond which can be manipulated and optically read. The project expects to generate knowledge in quantum metrology and an understanding of molecular dynamics at the nanoscale. The expected outcome is a new type of device capable of imaging complex physical systems at the level of their individual constituent components. This has significant benefits in improving designer materials, energy production, information storage, and drug design.Read moreRead less