Vibration Isolation Technology and Instrumentaion for Geophysical Surveys. Many geophysical exploration instruments are limited in sensitivity by vibration induced noise. New techniques of vibration isolation have been shown to eliminate vibration induced noise in a vibrating wire magnetic gradiometer. This project will create fully integrated sensor ?isolation packages for airborne and underwater applications, both for gradiometers and for ground penetrating radars. The project will signific ....Vibration Isolation Technology and Instrumentaion for Geophysical Surveys. Many geophysical exploration instruments are limited in sensitivity by vibration induced noise. New techniques of vibration isolation have been shown to eliminate vibration induced noise in a vibrating wire magnetic gradiometer. This project will create fully integrated sensor ?isolation packages for airborne and underwater applications, both for gradiometers and for ground penetrating radars. The project will significantly benefit the mineral exploration industry as well as underwater detection of cables and ship wrecks.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0560658
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$481,533.00
Summary
Shared Laser Facility. The Australian Shared Laser Facility (ASLF) has been providing lasers for physical chemistry research for a decade. ASLF lasers are portable and are transported between participating laboratories according to need and research priorities. Funds are sought to expand the ASLF by 3 laser systems and 2 research groups. The requested lasers provide mid-IR and deep UV wavelengths, spectral regions inaccessible with existing ASLF lasers. Access to these wavelengths is essenti ....Shared Laser Facility. The Australian Shared Laser Facility (ASLF) has been providing lasers for physical chemistry research for a decade. ASLF lasers are portable and are transported between participating laboratories according to need and research priorities. Funds are sought to expand the ASLF by 3 laser systems and 2 research groups. The requested lasers provide mid-IR and deep UV wavelengths, spectral regions inaccessible with existing ASLF lasers. Access to these wavelengths is essential for Australian research to remain at the forefront of international physical chemistry research. ASLF laboratories support a wide range of chemical research including spectroscopy, environmental chemistry, astrochemistry, and exploration of nanostructured materials.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0883030
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$450,000.00
Summary
High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of ....High-Resolution Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscopy (FESEM) Platform for Characterisation at the Nanometre-Level. The Field Emission Scanning Electron Microscope (FESEM) is designed to provide fundamental insights into physical and biological systems though characterisation and analysis of structures on nanometre length scales. This versatile instrument will support a wide range of research projects covering all four national research priorities. These range from the characterisation of light alloys to boost and intensify Australia's aluminium, magnesium and titanium alloy industries, to tissue engineering for the repair of human elastic tissues in skin, artery, bladder and lung, to the study of microtubules in plant cells for genetic manipulation of plants to withstand environmental stresses such as drought or salinity.Read moreRead less
Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors and Magnetic Gradiometers for Natural Resources Exploration and Future Space Missions. Australia will benefit from the long-standing world-class mining exploration industry. The new magnetic gradiometer system would greatly enhance their arsenal of geophysical exploration tools, especially for the detection of both magnetically and/or conductive minerals like nickel sulphide. Due to the inherent skin depth issues of conductive cover, a unique condition in Austral ....Advanced Electromagnetic Sensors and Magnetic Gradiometers for Natural Resources Exploration and Future Space Missions. Australia will benefit from the long-standing world-class mining exploration industry. The new magnetic gradiometer system would greatly enhance their arsenal of geophysical exploration tools, especially for the detection of both magnetically and/or conductive minerals like nickel sulphide. Due to the inherent skin depth issues of conductive cover, a unique condition in Australia, a low frequency electromagnetic survey system is one of the best methods to penetrate the cover and investigate deeper geological structures. The low frequency isolation system developed in this project will improve the survey instrument performance down to 4Hz, providing capability to explore resources about 50-100% deeper than existing instrumentation allows.Read moreRead less
Digital Interferometry: A platform technology for robust optical measurements. Digital interferometry is a new concept which will allow the measurement precision of interferometry to be applied in otherwise inaccessible or unsuitable environments. It will enhance the performance of major scientific instruments, such as gravitational wave detectors and optical telescopes, whilst reducing the cost, giving Australia a high profile in the quest to understand the universe. When applied to everyday ....Digital Interferometry: A platform technology for robust optical measurements. Digital interferometry is a new concept which will allow the measurement precision of interferometry to be applied in otherwise inaccessible or unsuitable environments. It will enhance the performance of major scientific instruments, such as gravitational wave detectors and optical telescopes, whilst reducing the cost, giving Australia a high profile in the quest to understand the universe. When applied to everyday situations, such as surveillance, traffic flow or vibration monitoring, it can give Australian industry a economic and social advantage, increasing the wealth and security of the nation. Read moreRead less
Measuring the linewidth enhancement factor and optical feedback level factor of semiconductor lasers based on optical feedback self-mixing interferometry. This project aims to develop a high performance solution for the challenging problem of measuring the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) of semiconductor lasers (SLs) and the optical feedback level factor, C, for the optical feedback self-mixing (OFSM) systems. Specific outcomes of the research include (1) a new model for an optical feedback ....Measuring the linewidth enhancement factor and optical feedback level factor of semiconductor lasers based on optical feedback self-mixing interferometry. This project aims to develop a high performance solution for the challenging problem of measuring the linewidth enhancement factor (LEF) of semiconductor lasers (SLs) and the optical feedback level factor, C, for the optical feedback self-mixing (OFSM) systems. Specific outcomes of the research include (1) a new model for an optical feedback self-mixing effect, (2) a new approach for measuring LEF and C based on the proposed model, (3) signal processing algorithms for improving the performance of the proposed approach, and (4) an OFSM system prototype based on the new model and algorithms.Read moreRead less
Structure-Activity Relationships in Silicon-based Photovoltaics Through Atomic Scale Microscopy. This project aims to develop new design principles for silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs) through a comprehensive study of atomic-scale structures and phenomena in PV materials. The development of more efficient photovoltaic materials is of major global importance, given the pressing need for clean and renewable sources of energy. Australia has international leadership in developing solar cell technol ....Structure-Activity Relationships in Silicon-based Photovoltaics Through Atomic Scale Microscopy. This project aims to develop new design principles for silicon-based photovoltaics (PVs) through a comprehensive study of atomic-scale structures and phenomena in PV materials. The development of more efficient photovoltaic materials is of major global importance, given the pressing need for clean and renewable sources of energy. Australia has international leadership in developing solar cell technologies, and the ideal natural environment to exploit these technologies. The fundamental insights derived in this project, such as detailed 3D maps of dopant distributions at the atomic scale, will bolster Australia's international reputation in the field and provide better control in the design of PV devices. Read moreRead less
Exposure dating with manganese-53, neon-21 and beryllium-10: a new toolkit for studying long-term landscape evolution. Australia today is the driest inhabited continent but this was not always the case. Tens of millions of years ago the climate of Australia was considerably wetter. Then, several million years ago, aridity in Australia developed producing most of the desert features of the red Centre that we see today. The age of our deserts and other arid features are not, however, well known. T ....Exposure dating with manganese-53, neon-21 and beryllium-10: a new toolkit for studying long-term landscape evolution. Australia today is the driest inhabited continent but this was not always the case. Tens of millions of years ago the climate of Australia was considerably wetter. Then, several million years ago, aridity in Australia developed producing most of the desert features of the red Centre that we see today. The age of our deserts and other arid features are not, however, well known. This project will determine the age of desertification in Australia, thereby enhancing our understanding of such processes and the response of our landscape to changing climate.
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Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next de ....Astrophotonics: exploiting a new technological frontier to probe back to the Dark Ages. Photonics, a key research strength in Australia, emerged from the telecommunications industry. But this exciting field has now begun to foster new scientific disciplines. One of the most recent is astrophotonics, a field at the interface of photonics and another Australian research strength, astronomy. Astrophotonics will deliver cutting-edge technologies to ensure Australia's astronomical lead in the next decade. These new facilities will serve as a vital stepping stone to the Giant Magellan Telescope, a $500M project promising enormous economic, engineering and scientific opportunities for Australia. Astrophotonics will also lead to innovative technology transfer to fields such as medical science, optical computing and sensor technology.Read moreRead less
Integrated Multidimensional Gas Chromatography - Spectroscopic Detection Methodology for Chemical Marker Discovery. Chemical species are pervasive in our modern society and are found in personal care products, foods, additives, petroleum products, illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and pollutants. Each sample must be analysed to determine its accurate composition, and as a safeguard. This requires chemical methods of analysis. Classical chemical methods may fail when samples become too complex, or t ....Integrated Multidimensional Gas Chromatography - Spectroscopic Detection Methodology for Chemical Marker Discovery. Chemical species are pervasive in our modern society and are found in personal care products, foods, additives, petroleum products, illicit drugs, pharmaceuticals and pollutants. Each sample must be analysed to determine its accurate composition, and as a safeguard. This requires chemical methods of analysis. Classical chemical methods may fail when samples become too complex, or they may lead to imprecise identification. This Frontier Technologies proposal has broad national and international relevance through development of new methods for authentication of chemical identity and the subsequent superior ability to characterise numerous sample compositions.Read moreRead less