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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE150100055
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$560,000.00
Summary
The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP). The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP): The aim of the Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP) is to fund the construction costs of an innovative instrument to be built in Australia and installed onto the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) VISTA telescope. Australia leads the world in fibre-positioning instrumentation and their scientific exploitation. This project will allow Australi ....The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP). The Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP): The aim of the Australian European Southern Observatory Positioner (AESOP) is to fund the construction costs of an innovative instrument to be built in Australia and installed onto the European Southern Observatory's (ESO) VISTA telescope. Australia leads the world in fibre-positioning instrumentation and their scientific exploitation. This project will allow Australian researchers to take a leading role through major studies of the spatial distributions of galaxies. The outcomes of the project will be construction and delivery of an optical fibre-positioning system to the ESO, resulting in general access to the ESO's premier survey facility for eight Australian researchers.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100145
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Australian membership of the European 4MOST Consortium. Australian membership of the European 4MOST consortium:
The objective of this project is to build the positioner at the Australian Astronomical Observatory to enable participation in the upcoming programs of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The 4MOST Consortium is modifying one of the ESO telescopes for a 10-year campaign of dedicated wide-field astronomy programs. A key component of this upgrade will be the Australian built fibre- ....Australian membership of the European 4MOST Consortium. Australian membership of the European 4MOST consortium:
The objective of this project is to build the positioner at the Australian Astronomical Observatory to enable participation in the upcoming programs of the European Southern Observatory (ESO). The 4MOST Consortium is modifying one of the ESO telescopes for a 10-year campaign of dedicated wide-field astronomy programs. A key component of this upgrade will be the Australian built fibre-positioning system. In exchange for covering the labour costs associated with this instrument, Australian astronomers are being provided with the opportunity to lead one of the eight design reference missions and to participate in the other seven. The potential benefits are therefore two-fold: showcasing Australian technologies, and a leadership role for Australian scientists on one of ESO’s key facilities.Read moreRead less
Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low ....Instrumentation for the era of gravitational wave science. This project aims to study noise sources that limit the low-frequency performance of gravitational wave antenna: thermal noise, quantum radiation pressure noise and Newtonian noise. Gravitational wave detection is a new way in which to observe our universe. Although detectors such as advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory) should detect gravitational waves, further sensitivity improvement, particularly at low frequencies, will be needed to provide event rates necessary for astronomy. Expected project outcomes will support the development of the first free mass interferometer to operate at 120K using silicon optics, a vital facility for the world community. Pushing the boundaries of measurement may also drive innovation in optical sensing with potential applications in defence, security and exploration.Read moreRead less
The worlds next door: terrestrial exoplanets with the TOLIMAN space mission. This project aims to to explore our nearest neighbour star system, Alpha Centauri, for the first time probing for exoplanets with physical characteristics that resemble those of Earth. The finding of any such world, with the potential to support a biosphere like our own and lying only 4 light-years away, would profoundly alter our view of our place in the universe. The primary outcome of this project will be the design, ....The worlds next door: terrestrial exoplanets with the TOLIMAN space mission. This project aims to to explore our nearest neighbour star system, Alpha Centauri, for the first time probing for exoplanets with physical characteristics that resemble those of Earth. The finding of any such world, with the potential to support a biosphere like our own and lying only 4 light-years away, would profoundly alter our view of our place in the universe. The primary outcome of this project will be the design, construction, launch and operation of a novel and innovative space telescope: the TOLIMAN mission. This profoundly benefits the Australian space and university sectors, partnering them with international agencies to deliver marquee science with global impact: the search for our first stepping stone to interstellar space.Read moreRead less
Detection and Localisation of Gravitational Waves using Pulsar Timing Array. This project aims to contribute to one of the most significant breakthroughs in science - the direct detection of gravitational waves. It will develop innovative techniques to detect and localise gravitational waves in the nanohertz frequency band from radio timing data of millisecond pulsars. The technique developed by this project will help maximise the scientific output of Australia's legendary Parkes Radio Telescope ....Detection and Localisation of Gravitational Waves using Pulsar Timing Array. This project aims to contribute to one of the most significant breakthroughs in science - the direct detection of gravitational waves. It will develop innovative techniques to detect and localise gravitational waves in the nanohertz frequency band from radio timing data of millisecond pulsars. The technique developed by this project will help maximise the scientific output of Australia's legendary Parkes Radio Telescope, and boost the opportunities of the first detections of gravitational waves using the upcoming radio telescopes, Five hundred meter Aperture Spherical Telescope (FAST) and Square Kilometre Array (SKA).Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE160100045
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Coherent Laser Links for Space Applications. Coherent laser links for space applications:
This project seeks equipment to establish a deployable, free-space, coherent laser link to enable Australia’s continued leadership and involvement in large-scale international space projects. It would support optical free-space frequency transfer to expand the capability of the European Space Agency’s Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space mission; tests to validate the inter-satellite interferometry acquisition s ....Coherent Laser Links for Space Applications. Coherent laser links for space applications:
This project seeks equipment to establish a deployable, free-space, coherent laser link to enable Australia’s continued leadership and involvement in large-scale international space projects. It would support optical free-space frequency transfer to expand the capability of the European Space Agency’s Atomic Clock Ensemble in Space mission; tests to validate the inter-satellite interferometry acquisition system for the NASA Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment follow-on mission; and test-bed development for advanced coherent optical communications systems. Coherent, free-space laser links are an emerging technology for a range of high-impact research fields. The project would enable research relying on precision measurements of time and frequency; advanced inter-satellite laser interferometry, and coherent free-space optical communications. Read moreRead less
Capturing gravitational wave and electromagnetic flashes from binary merger. This project aims to contribute to one of the most momentous and long-anticipated discoveries in physics: the first detection of gravitational waves. The project plans to develop innovative technologies to detect gravitational waves using laser interferometers and enable prompt follow-up observations of gravitational wave sources by conventional telescopes. The outcome of this research would greatly help probe the natur ....Capturing gravitational wave and electromagnetic flashes from binary merger. This project aims to contribute to one of the most momentous and long-anticipated discoveries in physics: the first detection of gravitational waves. The project plans to develop innovative technologies to detect gravitational waves using laser interferometers and enable prompt follow-up observations of gravitational wave sources by conventional telescopes. The outcome of this research would greatly help probe the nature of matter and gravity at extreme densities.Read moreRead less
Cosmic explosions and the origin of the elements. After the big bang, the universe consisted only of hydrogen and helium; all heavier elements, including those necessary to life were made in stars and stellar explosions. This project will develop an understanding and model stars, stellar explosions and the synthesis of heavy elements from the first stars to the present.
Massive black holes in dense star clusters. This project will be investigating the metamorphosis of dense star clusters containing millions of stars into massive black holes at the centres of galaxies. The research will be undertaken using the world's largest optical telescopes and one of the nation's fastest supercomputers.
FIRE-DRIVE: Feedback in Realistic Environments to DRIVE turbulence. This project aims to understand galactic turbulence, which controls the formation of stars in the Universe and determines galaxy evolution and planet formation. Galactic turbulence is not yet well understood. This project’s goal is to determine the turbulence driving with realistic simulations and compare them to observations, to predict star, planet and galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations and observational tools dev ....FIRE-DRIVE: Feedback in Realistic Environments to DRIVE turbulence. This project aims to understand galactic turbulence, which controls the formation of stars in the Universe and determines galaxy evolution and planet formation. Galactic turbulence is not yet well understood. This project’s goal is to determine the turbulence driving with realistic simulations and compare them to observations, to predict star, planet and galaxy formation and evolution. The simulations and observational tools developed in this project will transform our understanding of galactic cloud and star formation, advancing international and Australian research on galaxies, stars and planets.Read moreRead less