Encoding and Communicating Navigable Soundfields. While sound recording is commonplace, it is not currently practical to completely record a sound space such that the experience can be reproduced at a chosen 'listening point'. This is a significant restriction for audio applications in the entertainment, surveillance and virtual/mixed reality areas. The project will research novel and practical solutions to this problem and offers a significant conceptual advance in the transmission of complex a ....Encoding and Communicating Navigable Soundfields. While sound recording is commonplace, it is not currently practical to completely record a sound space such that the experience can be reproduced at a chosen 'listening point'. This is a significant restriction for audio applications in the entertainment, surveillance and virtual/mixed reality areas. The project will research novel and practical solutions to this problem and offers a significant conceptual advance in the transmission of complex audio scenes. This project will build fundamental new technology and IP for Australia in the digital media and audio space, one of the fastest growing sectors of our economy.Read moreRead less
Parametric coding of acoustic fields using models of auditory sensitivity. The project represents cutting edge research in the field of soundfield recording, audio compression and reproduction. The introduction of explicit acoustic field theory to the field of audio compression is a substantive and innovative change that not only furthers the knowledge base in the field but also provides a framework for contributions in related fields such as auditory prosthetics and noise cancellation. The most ....Parametric coding of acoustic fields using models of auditory sensitivity. The project represents cutting edge research in the field of soundfield recording, audio compression and reproduction. The introduction of explicit acoustic field theory to the field of audio compression is a substantive and innovative change that not only furthers the knowledge base in the field but also provides a framework for contributions in related fields such as auditory prosthetics and noise cancellation. The most obvious benefits will be international acclaim and the opportunity to patent, develop and ultimately export technology and systems. Outcomes from the project will benefit consumers and facilitate diverse industries within Australia ranging from health management to the consumer electronics and entertainment industry. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE140100316
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$325,515.00
Summary
Seeing in the dark: measuring the signature of the early Universe with low-frequency radio telescopes. This project will detect and measure the signature of the first ionising sources in the early Universe. It uses a unique intersection of information theory and analysis methodology to design and implement a method of extracting the faint neutral hydrogen signal of reionisation from complex datasets. The hydrogen structure around these first light sources will be measured using data from the Mur ....Seeing in the dark: measuring the signature of the early Universe with low-frequency radio telescopes. This project will detect and measure the signature of the first ionising sources in the early Universe. It uses a unique intersection of information theory and analysis methodology to design and implement a method of extracting the faint neutral hydrogen signal of reionisation from complex datasets. The hydrogen structure around these first light sources will be measured using data from the Murchison Widefield Array telescope in Western Australia, revealing the signature of reionisation for the first time. Measurement of this signal constrains our understanding of the large-scale evolution of the Universe, defines properties of the first generation of stars and galaxies, and expands our understanding of the full history of the Universe.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100849
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$326,637.00
Summary
Measuring the Universe’s early evolution using lunar occultations. This project seeks to measure a radio signal for the first time, using the Murchison Widefield Array telescope and a novel technique involving the Moon, to learn what luminous objects dominated the early Universe. There is an entire period in the early Universe that remains unobserved because familiar objects such as stars and galaxies have yet to form. One of the few observables from this period, and the time directly following ....Measuring the Universe’s early evolution using lunar occultations. This project seeks to measure a radio signal for the first time, using the Murchison Widefield Array telescope and a novel technique involving the Moon, to learn what luminous objects dominated the early Universe. There is an entire period in the early Universe that remains unobserved because familiar objects such as stars and galaxies have yet to form. One of the few observables from this period, and the time directly following it, is the radio signal emitted by neutral hydrogen atoms. Innovative analysis techniques may be developed and new training pathways for astronomers should be initiated. The Project aims to raise Australia’s scientific profile and engage the public, promoting astronomy by making results accessible and using the Moon as a familiar foundation.Read moreRead less
International partnership in robotic astronomy and gravitational wave data analysis using a supercomputer. The project is aimed at providing student participation in frontier research using robotic astronomy and novel data analysis methods. It will focus on the study of the most violent explosions in the Universe - cosmological gamma ray bursts. These cataclysmic events possibly herald the formation of the most exotic objects in the Universe - black holes. It provides an exciting opportunity for ....International partnership in robotic astronomy and gravitational wave data analysis using a supercomputer. The project is aimed at providing student participation in frontier research using robotic astronomy and novel data analysis methods. It will focus on the study of the most violent explosions in the Universe - cosmological gamma ray bursts. These cataclysmic events possibly herald the formation of the most exotic objects in the Universe - black holes. It provides an exciting opportunity for students to be trained in robotic astronomy, supercomputing, image analysis and signal processing.Read moreRead less
Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0775621
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$494,000.00
Summary
Mileura Widefield Array: A New Low Frequency Telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Mileura in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In addi ....Mileura Widefield Array: A New Low Frequency Telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Mileura in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In addition, the telescope will measure the solar wind, and its potential interactions with the earth.
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Linkage Infrastructure, Equipment And Facilities - Grant ID: LE0882938
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$1,430,000.00
Summary
MIRA Widefield Array: a new low frequency telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Boolardy in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In additi ....MIRA Widefield Array: a new low frequency telescope. A new radio-quiet site for international radio astronomy is being developed at Boolardy in Western Australia. We have constructed a low frequency test array on the site, and established that the site is excellent for radio astronomy. We plan to build a telescope which will observe the early universe, when stars and galaxies where first born. This will be the first telescope capable of this type of measurement of the early universe. In addition, the telescope will measure the solar wind, and its potential interactions with the Earth. Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100356
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$360,000.00
Summary
Intensity mapping cosmology with radio telescopes. This project aims to develop a versatile infra-structure for the data analysis of existing observations and future data. Cosmology using intensity mapping of hydrogen with radio telescopes is a key science area for the anticipated Square Kilometre Array. The results of available datasets will constrain the expansion rate of the Universe and the laws of gravity about 7 billion years ago, inaccessible by other observations. New techniques will imp ....Intensity mapping cosmology with radio telescopes. This project aims to develop a versatile infra-structure for the data analysis of existing observations and future data. Cosmology using intensity mapping of hydrogen with radio telescopes is a key science area for the anticipated Square Kilometre Array. The results of available datasets will constrain the expansion rate of the Universe and the laws of gravity about 7 billion years ago, inaccessible by other observations. New techniques will improve the synergies between optical and radio data by measuring the gas content of optical galaxies. This is expected to advance knowledge of how the galaxy evolves.Read moreRead less
Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestria ....Precision Pulsar Timing and its Applications. The rapidly rotating pulsars known as millisecond pulsars have period stabilities which rival that of the best terrestrial clocks. Observations of many millisecond pulsars spread across the sky should allow detection of the gravitational-wave background - likely to be the first direct detection of gravity waves. It will also enable establishment of a long-term time standard which is independent of and probably superior to that derived from terrestrial clocks. New analysis techniques and establishment of an international observing network will be required. Investigation and application of techniques for overcoming radio interference will be an important part of the project.Read moreRead less
Defeating Radio Frequency Interference. The radio spectrum is a valuable resource. Development of techniques which minimize the impact of various users on one another, allowing this resource to be shared, will benefit the entire community. For astronomy in particular, shared use is essential because of the very wide bandwidths needed to obtain sufficient sensitivity. Usage of the radio spectrum is increasing rapidly and radio telescopes are becoming more and more sensitive, compounding the probl ....Defeating Radio Frequency Interference. The radio spectrum is a valuable resource. Development of techniques which minimize the impact of various users on one another, allowing this resource to be shared, will benefit the entire community. For astronomy in particular, shared use is essential because of the very wide bandwidths needed to obtain sufficient sensitivity. Usage of the radio spectrum is increasing rapidly and radio telescopes are becoming more and more sensitive, compounding the problems. The digital signal processing techniques developed under this project will be widely applicable, not only to future radio astronomy facilities such as the Square Kilometer Array, but also to the communications industry generally.Read moreRead less