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
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
High Performance Microwave Oscillators for Radars, Comminication Systems and Precision Noise Measurements. The aim of the project is to develop a new class of microwave oscillators with unique combination of properties including low-noise, high frequency stability and reduced sensitivity to vibration. Such oscillators are essential for expanding fields of radar, fiber optics, optical frequency synthesis and metrology.
The industrial partner's focus will be on demands for reduced cost and impro ....High Performance Microwave Oscillators for Radars, Comminication Systems and Precision Noise Measurements. The aim of the project is to develop a new class of microwave oscillators with unique combination of properties including low-noise, high frequency stability and reduced sensitivity to vibration. Such oscillators are essential for expanding fields of radar, fiber optics, optical frequency synthesis and metrology.
The industrial partner's focus will be on demands for reduced cost and improved environmental performance, the university team will focus on improved frequency stability, optimal tuning and novel vibration immunity techniques.
Achieving the project goals will broaden the international markets for the industry partner's products and lead to increased export income for Australia.
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Application of ultra-high stability cryogenic sapphire oscillators to Very Long Baseline Interferometry. This project will develop a state-of-the-art commercial prototype of the cryogenic sapphire oscillator (CSO) optimised for use at remote sites. Proof of operation will be applied to the important niche market of Very-Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio astronomy, with improvements in image quality. The research will also significantly benefit the Australian bid for the SKA project, as ....Application of ultra-high stability cryogenic sapphire oscillators to Very Long Baseline Interferometry. This project will develop a state-of-the-art commercial prototype of the cryogenic sapphire oscillator (CSO) optimised for use at remote sites. Proof of operation will be applied to the important niche market of Very-Long Baseline Interferometry (VLBI) radio astronomy, with improvements in image quality. The research will also significantly benefit the Australian bid for the SKA project, as the CSO is the only technology capable of synchronising the outputs of the telescopes arrays to the required signal to noise to attain the required image quality. The project will further Australia's status in radio astronomy as a world leader and add to our exports of precision scientific instruments.Read moreRead less
Application of Femtosecond Light Sources to Generation of Low Noise Microwave Signals. The main goal of the research project is to develop prototypes of photonic oscillators capable of generating spectrally pure signals both at optical and microwave frequencies. The project is also aimed at understanding noise mechanisms affecting frequency stability of classical microwave oscillators based on sapphire loaded cavity resonators. By cryogenically cooling such resonators we plan to create a new fam ....Application of Femtosecond Light Sources to Generation of Low Noise Microwave Signals. The main goal of the research project is to develop prototypes of photonic oscillators capable of generating spectrally pure signals both at optical and microwave frequencies. The project is also aimed at understanding noise mechanisms affecting frequency stability of classical microwave oscillators based on sapphire loaded cavity resonators. By cryogenically cooling such resonators we plan to create a new family of extremely low noise and economically viable microwave signal sources. The research proposed will enrich the field of oscillator frequency control, give rise to new techniques for precision noise measurements and reinforce Australia's position at the forefront of microwave and photonic science.Read moreRead less
Airborne vibration isolation for geophysical exploration. Sensitive airborne instrumentation for geophysical exploration is almost always degraded in sensitivity by the high levels of vibration and acoustic noise in survey aircraft. This project will develop a prototype robust vibration isolator with exceptional isolation across the audio frequency band. The device uses advanced techniques developed for gravitational wave detection. The system will be tested in survey aircraft using both vib ....Airborne vibration isolation for geophysical exploration. Sensitive airborne instrumentation for geophysical exploration is almost always degraded in sensitivity by the high levels of vibration and acoustic noise in survey aircraft. This project will develop a prototype robust vibration isolator with exceptional isolation across the audio frequency band. The device uses advanced techniques developed for gravitational wave detection. The system will be tested in survey aircraft using both vibration sensors and actual survey instrumentation to confirm its effectiveness, robustness and durability.Read moreRead less
A Roadmap for Greening Existing Australian Housing. The project will minimise the impact of the Greenhouse Pollution Reduction Scheme and anticipated rises in water costs on the householders. It will assist the consumers and the building industry in evaluating the environmental and economic costs and benefits of specific retrofitting actions for building envelope and major fixed appliances (thermal insulation, glazing, air infiltration, hot water, heating/cooling, lighting, low water flow and wa ....A Roadmap for Greening Existing Australian Housing. The project will minimise the impact of the Greenhouse Pollution Reduction Scheme and anticipated rises in water costs on the householders. It will assist the consumers and the building industry in evaluating the environmental and economic costs and benefits of specific retrofitting actions for building envelope and major fixed appliances (thermal insulation, glazing, air infiltration, hot water, heating/cooling, lighting, low water flow and water reuse appliances, and solar photovoltaic systems). In addition to assisting a burgeoning renovation industry, the project will enable accurate assessment of the impacts of the Green Loans Program and guide future national and local energy and water reduction policies. Read moreRead less
Development of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Methods and Technology to Enhance the Detection of Explosives and Other Contraband. This project will develop new methods and technology for the detection of explosives and other compounds using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance. This technique is of great importance to aviation security and the military and is particularly relevant to the priority goal of 'Safeguarding Australia'. The Industry partner has licensing contracts with major x-ray manufacturer ....Development of Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance Methods and Technology to Enhance the Detection of Explosives and Other Contraband. This project will develop new methods and technology for the detection of explosives and other compounds using Nuclear Quadrupole Resonance. This technique is of great importance to aviation security and the military and is particularly relevant to the priority goal of 'Safeguarding Australia'. The Industry partner has licensing contracts with major x-ray manufacturers and system integrators to integrate this technology. These investigations should yield improvements in the signal to noise ratio, false alarm rates and the spatial discrimination of targets. This work will lead to significant increases in the value of the technology and open up new areas of commercialization.Read moreRead less
From innovators to mainstream market: a toolkit for transforming Australian housing and maximising sustainability outcomes for stakeholders. As a significant national asset, Australia's housing needs to provide economic, social and environmental value to occupants, owners and the broader society. Learning from innovation, this project will deliver strategies to improve the productivity of the housing sector and enhance the value proposition of sustainable homes for all stakeholders.