Particle astrophysics with the Pierre Auger observatory. Australia's scientific reputation is enhanced through participation in international collaborations that aim to solve long-standing mysteries in science. The Pierre Auger Observatory covers a huge 3000 square km in western Argentina, where we are attempting to solve one of the biggest puzzles in modern astrophysics - the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays, particles 100 million times more energetic than we can produce on Earth. Ade ....Particle astrophysics with the Pierre Auger observatory. Australia's scientific reputation is enhanced through participation in international collaborations that aim to solve long-standing mysteries in science. The Pierre Auger Observatory covers a huge 3000 square km in western Argentina, where we are attempting to solve one of the biggest puzzles in modern astrophysics - the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays, particles 100 million times more energetic than we can produce on Earth. Adelaide scientists were founding members of the Auger project, and now have leading roles within the experiment. This is providing our students with access to world-class facilities and researchers in a field which has moved to the mainstream of astrophysics research.Read moreRead less
Searches for the Origin of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays. The highest energy cosmic rays are the most energetic particles known in the Universe, but we do not know their origin. The ARC-supported Pierre Auger Project is now beginning data acquistion, and will be fully constructed in 2005, with a collecting power 10 times larger than previous experiments. The proposed fellow will collaborate with the Adelaide group in searching for clusters of arrival directions, with an aim of discovering astro ....Searches for the Origin of Ultra-High Energy Cosmic Rays. The highest energy cosmic rays are the most energetic particles known in the Universe, but we do not know their origin. The ARC-supported Pierre Auger Project is now beginning data acquistion, and will be fully constructed in 2005, with a collecting power 10 times larger than previous experiments. The proposed fellow will collaborate with the Adelaide group in searching for clusters of arrival directions, with an aim of discovering astrophysical sources. This project will involve sophisticated event reconstruction and analysis techniques, which take advantage of Auger's unique combination of huge collecting power and good control of systematic uncertainties.Read moreRead less
Development of an active noise control system for sleeper seats on large commercial aircraft. Possible avenues will be investigated to actively reduce aircraft cabin noise experienced by passengers in sleeper seats, using localised active noise control (ANC). Previous work has focused on headsets and upright seat headrests which represent a different problem to the partially enclosed sleeper seats considered here. Efficiency and robustness problems that affect existing ANC systems will be addres ....Development of an active noise control system for sleeper seats on large commercial aircraft. Possible avenues will be investigated to actively reduce aircraft cabin noise experienced by passengers in sleeper seats, using localised active noise control (ANC). Previous work has focused on headsets and upright seat headrests which represent a different problem to the partially enclosed sleeper seats considered here. Efficiency and robustness problems that affect existing ANC systems will be addressed. A prototype system will be produced for a business class sleeper seat in a wide body aircraft. A second outcome is the establishment of a robust integrated system design procedure that can be used to quickly develop ANC systems for future designs.Read moreRead less
Development and study of a new theory of gravity. Gravity is thought to be an understood physical phenomena. But recently dramatic discoveries have revealed that major aspects of this phenomenon have been completely missed. This research project will develop and explore implications of these discoveries. At one level this project is about major breakthroughs in fundamental science, but discoveries are revealing space to be a complex dynamic system, and new technologies to detect and exp ....Development and study of a new theory of gravity. Gravity is thought to be an understood physical phenomena. But recently dramatic discoveries have revealed that major aspects of this phenomenon have been completely missed. This research project will develop and explore implications of these discoveries. At one level this project is about major breakthroughs in fundamental science, but discoveries are revealing space to be a complex dynamic system, and new technologies to detect and exploit this are foreseen. There is some evidence that space is a self-organising information system of a totally new kind, and this will also have applications. At a scientific level these developments will attract considerable international attention and will enthuse younger researchersRead moreRead less
Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray and Neutrino Astronomy using Radio Telescopes. There will be an increase in Australian visibility in the high energy astrophysics community and stronger links between and within the fields of radio astronomy and high energy astrophysics in Australia, and internationally. This project will enhance Australian participation in the international Square Kilometre Array. By making observations using the Australia Telescope we may discover the first UHE neutrino - this wo ....Ultra High Energy Cosmic Ray and Neutrino Astronomy using Radio Telescopes. There will be an increase in Australian visibility in the high energy astrophysics community and stronger links between and within the fields of radio astronomy and high energy astrophysics in Australia, and internationally. This project will enhance Australian participation in the international Square Kilometre Array. By making observations using the Australia Telescope we may discover the first UHE neutrino - this would have huge impact and prestige for Australia. The technology developed resulting from this project will contribute to Australia's IT base. Read moreRead less
LUNASKA, a theoretical and experimental project for UHE neutrino astrophysics using a giant radio observatory. There will be an increase in Australian visibility in the high energy astrophysics community and stronger links between and within the fields of radio astronomy and high energy astrophysics in Australia, and internationally. This project will enhance Australian participation in the international Square Kilometre Array. By making observations using the Australia Telescope we may discov ....LUNASKA, a theoretical and experimental project for UHE neutrino astrophysics using a giant radio observatory. There will be an increase in Australian visibility in the high energy astrophysics community and stronger links between and within the fields of radio astronomy and high energy astrophysics in Australia, and internationally. This project will enhance Australian participation in the international Square Kilometre Array. By making observations using the Australia Telescope we may discover the first UHE neutrino - this would have huge impact and prestige for Australia. The technology developed resulting from this project will contribute to Australia's IT base. Hosting an international workshop will benefit national prestige and economy. Read moreRead less
Energetic particle interactions in the universe: consequences for cosmic ray, gamma ray and neutrino astrophysics. The most energetic phenomena in the Universe will be explored with giant cosmic ray, neutrino and gamma ray telescopes. Particles accelerated or produced in astrophysical sources interact in their magnetic, matter and radiation environment, making cosmic rays, gamma rays and neutrinos. Subsequently, interactions in space as they travel to Earth change what we see. With theoretical w ....Energetic particle interactions in the universe: consequences for cosmic ray, gamma ray and neutrino astrophysics. The most energetic phenomena in the Universe will be explored with giant cosmic ray, neutrino and gamma ray telescopes. Particles accelerated or produced in astrophysical sources interact in their magnetic, matter and radiation environment, making cosmic rays, gamma rays and neutrinos. Subsequently, interactions in space as they travel to Earth change what we see. With theoretical work proposed in this project we aim to determine where in the Universe the highest energy cosmic rays originate, and the fundamental processes responsible for them. It will also lead to a greater understanding of how active galaxies and other astrophysical objects function.Read moreRead less
Astrophysics with the CANGAROO III Gamma-ray Telescope. This project will explore the last remaining part of the electromagnetic spectrum previously inaccessible in astronomy. It covers two decades of photon energy, above those accessible to satellite telescopes, and below those accessible to previous generations of ground-based VHE gamma-ray telescopes. Observations in those other energy ranges give us confidence that there is much to be discovered. We will provide an Australian contribution ....Astrophysics with the CANGAROO III Gamma-ray Telescope. This project will explore the last remaining part of the electromagnetic spectrum previously inaccessible in astronomy. It covers two decades of photon energy, above those accessible to satellite telescopes, and below those accessible to previous generations of ground-based VHE gamma-ray telescopes. Observations in those other energy ranges give us confidence that there is much to be discovered. We will provide an Australian contribution to the CANGAROO III telescope project, supporting the multi-million dollar contribution of our Japanese partners. Based at Woomera, this work maintains Australian access to a key astrophysical field at very modest cost.Read moreRead less
Revealing Cosmic-Ray Accelerators with Gamma-Ray and Millimetre Radio Observations. Australia plays a pivotal role in studies of the Universe at extreme energies, via experiments studying the highest energy particles known as cosmic-rays. This project will combine the diverse fields of gamma-ray and radio astronomy to understand where these cosmic-rays in the Milky Way come from. Australian radio telescopes in tandem with an Australian supported high energy gamma-ray telescope offer the best cha ....Revealing Cosmic-Ray Accelerators with Gamma-Ray and Millimetre Radio Observations. Australia plays a pivotal role in studies of the Universe at extreme energies, via experiments studying the highest energy particles known as cosmic-rays. This project will combine the diverse fields of gamma-ray and radio astronomy to understand where these cosmic-rays in the Milky Way come from. Australian radio telescopes in tandem with an Australian supported high energy gamma-ray telescope offer the best chance to tackle this 100 year old problem. The project will generate a new look at our Milky Way disrupted by extreme objects such as exploding stars, and, provide a new science and high technical training opportunity for Australian researchers to tackle a fundamental problem in nature.Read moreRead less
Studies of the Highest Energy Particles in Nature. One of the greatest mysteries of modern astrophysics is the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays. While rare, these subatomic particles possess enormous energies, some 100 million times larger than we can impart to a proton in man-made accelerators. Theory struggles to identify cosmic ray acceleration mechanisms, but these particles do exist. This project will fund our participation in the world's largest cosmic ray observatories, and ou ....Studies of the Highest Energy Particles in Nature. One of the greatest mysteries of modern astrophysics is the origin of the highest energy cosmic rays. While rare, these subatomic particles possess enormous energies, some 100 million times larger than we can impart to a proton in man-made accelerators. Theory struggles to identify cosmic ray acceleration mechanisms, but these particles do exist. This project will fund our participation in the world's largest cosmic ray observatories, and our aim is to use the characteristics of the incoming particles (mass, energy and arrival directions) to determine the likely sources of the most energetic particles known in Nature.Read moreRead less