The annual Research School of Physics and Engineering Founder's Day is on again!

Put the date in your diary and join the School to hear about our achievements.

8.30am - Technical displays

9.00am - Director’s Presentation

Director Research School of Physics & Engineering

10.00am - Physics Education Centre

Our staff-student ratio here at ANU Physics means we have a unique opportunity for one-on-one research supervision of undergraduate students. In this talk I will use the example of the 3rd Year project course to explore this and ask the question: 'Can we effectively integrate this into the curricu-lum to teach the students skills that last beyond exams?

10.15am - Atomic and Molecular Physics Laboratories

The positron is the electrons ‘evil twin’ (or anti-particle) who always goes out with a bang. We’ll explore the life and times of a positron and find out why it is in such high demand for Science Fiction.

10.30am - Electronic Materials Engineering

Compound semiconductor nanowires are promising for reducing the footprint of optoelectronic devices. In my presentation, I will discuss how nanocavities can be used to extract more light from nanowires.

10.45am - Morning Tea

11.15am - Applied Mathematics

Salt dissolved in water is possibly both the simplest and most important molecule in the body. Yet we are only just beginning to understand it. I will explain why this sub-stance is so vital and mysterious and then describe some recent advances in modelling it.

11.30am - Nonlinear Physics

Topological properties play a fundamental role in many physical phenomena. The best known example is the quan-tum Hall effect resulting in the edge-state conductance insensitive to disorder. Recently, these ideas boosted remarkable breakthroughs in optics with the concepts of topological robustness developed from microwaves to visible, opening up new and intriguing ways to explore topological orders in photonics. This talk will overview our recent theoretical and experimental research in topological photonics.

11.45am - Laser Physics

Optical defects in diamond have been used to realise a range of quantum technologies in diamond, including quantum sensing, computing and communications. Indeed, a single defect can be used to perform high precision mag-netic resonance imaging of a single molecule or control thermoablative therapy of individual cancer cells or locate a single electron with nanometre resolution in ambient conditions. Diamond defects can also be assembled into quantum registers for computing and integration into quantum optical networks.

12.00pm - Plasma Research Laboratory

Two-dimensional, fluid surface waves can move floating objects in the direction of the wave. It is also well known that 2D waves rarely exist in nature. Naturally we ask, how do 3D waves drive flows?

12.15pm - Nuclear Physics

All of the carbon in the universe is made by the so-called triple-alpha nuclear reaction in red giant stars. This carbon is the basis for life and the seed for making heavier ele-ments. By detecting electron-positron pairs in the laborato-ry we are determining the carbon production rate in the universe.

12.30pm - Theoretical Physics

There is considerable debate about the formation of ooids, which, like their cousins the stromatolites, are key towards understanding the long-term evolution of the Earth's environment. Such simple spherical growth forms, also characteristic of a diverse range of objects like kidney stones and algal biscuits, are a theorists paradise.

12.45pm - Quantum Science

This talk will provide an overview of how physics research at the Department of Quantum Science improves aspects of the five senses of human experience. In particular, I will describe some ongoing experimental activities using lasers and optics for sensing at the cutting-edge of acuity.

1.00pm - Founder’s Day Luncheon barbeque