Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method ....Electron, positron, and heavy-particle collisions with molecules. This project aims to develop a computational approach to collisions involving molecular targets with electrons, positrons and heavy particles. Recently, the approach to atomic collisions, the Convergent Close Coupling (CCC) method, has been extended and verified for positron, electron, and heavy particle collisions with the simplest molecular systems (molecular hydrogen and its ion). This project now aims to extend the CCC method to study collisions with more complex molecules. Expected benefits include more accurate data for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography, and potential advances in particle-based cancer therapy.Read moreRead less
Low-energy electron transport in soft-condensed biological matter. To obtain optimal accuracy and selectivity of ionising radiation based technologies requires an understanding and quantification of the underpinning fundamental physical processes. This project will focus on developing accurate theoretical models of low-energy electron transport in biological matter which account for new physical mechanisms.
Quantum collision theory for astrophysics, fusion energy and hadron therapy. The project intends to investigate collision processes involving charged particles interacting with complex atoms and molecules. Although the theory of electron, positron and ion collisions with simple atoms and molecules has advanced in recent years, the corresponding computational modelling is difficult due to the mix of the countably and uncountably infinite spectrum of the target, the long-range Coulomb potential, a ....Quantum collision theory for astrophysics, fusion energy and hadron therapy. The project intends to investigate collision processes involving charged particles interacting with complex atoms and molecules. Although the theory of electron, positron and ion collisions with simple atoms and molecules has advanced in recent years, the corresponding computational modelling is difficult due to the mix of the countably and uncountably infinite spectrum of the target, the long-range Coulomb potential, and the multicentre nature of the target and the rearrangement processes. These difficulties could be overcome using a convergent close-coupling method. This project plans to apply the method to complex quantum collision systems in diverse applications of current interest such as fusion energy, lighting, astrophysics, and cancer imaging and therapy.Read moreRead less
Gamma-ray spectra from electron-positron annihilation in molecules. Positrons and molecular electrons interact in new ways as compared to the electrons themselves, thus providing novel chemical possibilities. Australian expertise and the best available elsewhere will be combined to produce important new scientific results in this area and provide major training opportunities for young researchers.
Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of pro ....Violation of fundamental symmetries in atomic phenomena. Violation of the fundamental symmetries is predicted by unification theories of elementary particles. The aim of this project is to propose new enhanced effects of parity, time reversal and Lorentz invariance violations and perform their calculations needed to test unification theories in atomic and nuclear phenomena. By-products of this project include development of high precision computer codes for atomic calculations and theory of processes involving atoms and nuclei in chaotic excited states. These codes and theory are expected to have numerous applications (e.g. search for Dark Matter and atomic spectra of superheavy elements, atomic clocks and electron and photon processes).
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From dark matter to atomic physics. Very little is known about dark matter except that it is present in our Universe in abundance. The project aims to guide the search for dark matter particles (and study related phenomena, for example, baryogenesis). The guiding idea is that these particles interact, albeit weakly, with atoms and hence are able to ionise them, which is a detectable process.
Many-body phenomena in atomic and subatomic physics. The project proposes research in the following areas: search for Dark Matter and Dark Energy using atomic experiments; an enhancement mechanism of baryogenesis based on the new class of gauge theory solutions; new quantum effects in strong gravitational fields and phenomena in non-black hole metric, which reproduce some properties of black holes; new phenomena in strong laser fields, which can help constructing high-frequency lasers; exchange- ....Many-body phenomena in atomic and subatomic physics. The project proposes research in the following areas: search for Dark Matter and Dark Energy using atomic experiments; an enhancement mechanism of baryogenesis based on the new class of gauge theory solutions; new quantum effects in strong gravitational fields and phenomena in non-black hole metric, which reproduce some properties of black holes; new phenomena in strong laser fields, which can help constructing high-frequency lasers; exchange-assisted tunneling; and, chaos-induced boost of electron recombination, charge transfer and weak interactions. The results based on proposed ideas will guide laboratory and astrophysical studies, help verify cosmological models and Unification theories.Read moreRead less
Atomic theory and search for new elementary particles. This project aims to propose new enhanced effects of hypothetical dark matter particles in atomic and astrophysical phenomena, perform calculations, and motivate new experiments with a higher sensitivity to these particles. The mass of dark matter in the Universe is five times that of ordinary matter, yet its nature is still unknown. This project also aims to improve calculations of the effects of dark matter searched for in underground labo ....Atomic theory and search for new elementary particles. This project aims to propose new enhanced effects of hypothetical dark matter particles in atomic and astrophysical phenomena, perform calculations, and motivate new experiments with a higher sensitivity to these particles. The mass of dark matter in the Universe is five times that of ordinary matter, yet its nature is still unknown. This project also aims to improve calculations of the effects of dark matter searched for in underground laboratories including the Australian Stawell laboratory. Relativistic and many-body effects may change the results by orders of magnitude, and proper account of them is important. This may be achieved using our computer codes for high-precision relativistic atomic many-body calculations.Read moreRead less
Manifestations of unification theories in atomic phenomena. The project aims to contribute to both fundamental science and its applications. The project proposes new ideas, methods and calculations to test unification theories using effects of violation of the fundamental symmetries P, T, Lorentz symmetry and the equivalence principle in atomic and molecular phenomena, and to search for space-time variation of the fundamental constants across the Universe using both astrophysical observations an ....Manifestations of unification theories in atomic phenomena. The project aims to contribute to both fundamental science and its applications. The project proposes new ideas, methods and calculations to test unification theories using effects of violation of the fundamental symmetries P, T, Lorentz symmetry and the equivalence principle in atomic and molecular phenomena, and to search for space-time variation of the fundamental constants across the Universe using both astrophysical observations and laboratory experiments. The outcomes of this project may lead to the proposal of new atomic, nuclear and molecular clocks and the calculations needed to estimate and improve the accuracy of these clocks.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101593
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$462,948.00
Summary
Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enab ....Developing new tools to search for dark matter. This project aims to propose and assist in the development of novel approaches, based on atomic, molecular and optical technologies, to detect dark matter in the laboratory, and thereby establish the identity and microscopic properties of dark matter. The origin and nature of dark matter remains one of the most important outstanding problems in contemporary science. The intended outcome of this project is that the use of our novel methods will enable us to search for forms of dark matter that have remained largely unprobed to date. This in turn is expected to open up new opportunities in the global hunt for dark matter that should improve our chances of finally discovering the nature and properties of dark matter.Read moreRead less