There are several areas of Environmental Physics Research at RSPhysSE.

Accelerator Mass Spectrometry is a highly sensitive technique for identifying and quantifying minute traces of isotopes. At RSPhysSE we have adapted this technique to study the propagation of plutonium in the environment following accidents and past bad practice at various nuclear plants around the world. The advantage of AMS is that it is able to determine isotope ratios in samples with extremely small concentrations of plutonium. By knowing the isotope ratios it is possible to identify not only the nuclear plant responsible for contaminations but also in many cases how radioactive release into the environment took place. This is important both for policing and also in recommendation of the most appropriate strategy for clean up.

Atmospheric Physics. In order to properly understand the processes related to ozone formation and depletion, it is necessary have a good understanding of how ultraviolet light interacts with oxygen molecules. Atmospheric physics research at RSPhysSE focuses on the development and application of widely tuneable coherent sources of vacuum ultraviolet light and their application to the study of photo-dissociation dynamics. There are also close analogies between magnetically confined plasmas and planetary atmospheres, where the Coriolis force plays the role of the magnetic field. The Energetically Open Systems Group is engaged in a formal collaboration with CSIRO Atmospheric Research to further increase our understanding of the complex dynamics of both turbulent plasmas and atmospheres.

Selected research highlights

• Unraveling the Enigma of Auroral Excitation
• Gogo Fish Rewrites Evolutionary History
• Nuclear Fingerprints Frozen in Time
• Monsters of the Deep
• Maths Helps Unlock Secrets of Early Life
• The Evil Twin
• The Last Ice Age in Australia