Potential student research projects

The Research School of Physics performs research at the cutting edge of a wide range of disciplines.

By undertaking your own research project at ANU you could open up an exciting career in science.

Filter projects

Some other physics related research projects may be found at the ANU College of Engineering & Computer Science, the Mathematical Sciences Institute and the Research School of Astronomy & Astrophysics

Astrophysics

Unveiling galaxy formation and black hole growth through ultra-low frequency gravitational waves

This project aims to build a novel framework to study supermassive black holes via their unique gravitational wave signatures, providing a multi-messenger tool to constrain galaxy formation in the early universe.
This is a joint project between CGA/RSPhys and RSAA. Co-supervisor at RSAA: Dr Yuxiang Qin (yuxiang.qin@anu.edu.au)  

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun

Mid-infrared single-mode waveguides for the LIFE space mission

The Large Interferometer for Exoplanets (LIFE) aims to detect biosignatures on Earth-like planets by collecting mid-infrared spectra. A major challenge is creating low-loss waveguides for spatial filtering. This project explores photonic crystal waveguides, using femtosecond lasers and Bessel beams to fabricate microstructures in transparent crystals for efficient light guidance.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Dr Shan Liu

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Multi-messenger gravitational-wave astronomy

The event of two merging neutron stars, GW170817, was observed in gravitational waves and across the electromagnetic spectrum, opening a new era of multi-messenger astronomy. We work on following up electromagnetic counterparts to future detections of gravitational waves and are ready to contribute to the new science of multi-messenger astronomy. 

Distinguished Prof Susan Scott, Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Dr Karl Wette

Advanced detector development for rare event particle physics

Experimental, simulation, and data analysis projects are available to help develop advanced detection technology which will form the basis of a future large particle physics experiment in Australia

Dr Lindsey Bignell, Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Miss Victoria Bashu, Professor Gregory Lane

Active radon removal in directional dark matter detectors

Directional dark matter searches provide a way to probe beyond the irreducible ‘neutrino fog’ that limits traditional dark matter experiments. CYGNUS-OZ is part of the global directional dark matter effort, and this project focuses on the critical challenge of radon control in these detectors.

Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Dr Lindsey Bignell, Professor Gregory Lane

Prospects of future ground-based gravitational-wave detector network

In this project, we study the gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics science cases and observational prospects with future ground-based gravitational-wave observatories.

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland

Building an international radon network for low-background physics

Radon is a major radioactive background limiting the discovery potential of many low-background physics experiments. This project will contribute to an emerging international network working to standardise radon measurements through interlaboratory comparisons and the development of a global database for low-background physics.

Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Dr Lindsey Bignell, Professor Gregory Lane

Gravitational waves from ultralight boson clouds around black holes

Ultralight boson particles have been predicted to solve problems in particle and high-energy physics and are compelling dark matter candidates. We develop algorithms and search for these conjectured ultralight bosons around black holes via gravitational-wave observations. 

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Validating a quantum information science concept inventory with online learners

A new quantum information concept inventory, QISCIT, has been validated by experts but never tested on students. This project administers it to learners in an online quantum computing course and performs the psychometric analysis needed to turn it into a genuine research-based assessment.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Automated marking of astronomy questions: can AI read the night sky?

Since 2024, Large Language Models have become the standard tool used for automated marking of physics exams, especially for hand-written exams and questions which involve diagrams. Nobody has tested them on astronomy questions where students annotate a projection of the night sky. This project benchmarks LLMs against classical computer-vision methods on marking constellation and object identification tasks.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Exploring atomic nuclei at the limits of their existence

Some atomic nuclei are so neutron-rich that they survive for only fractions of a second before decaying. This project uses beta decay and gamma-ray spectroscopy to study these rare systems, revealing how nuclei behave at the limits of existence and how heavy elements are created in stellar explosions.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane

Continuous gravitational waves: new methods for new discoveries

The next big discovery in gravitational wave astronomy may be a first detection of continuous gravitational waves from rapidly-spinning neutron stars. This projects aims to develop the data analysis methods needed for such a discovery.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Measuring conceptual understanding in astrophysics: building and validating a new concept inventory

This project develops a new concept inventory for astronomy and astrophysics. The key stages include expert interviews, question design and stastical validation with student cohorts.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

When two neutron stars collide, what is left behind?

In 2017, the first discovery of gravitational waves from two colliding neutron stars heralded a new age of multi-messenger astronomy. But what was left over after the collision? This project aims to find out.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Single atom counting for stellar nuclear synthesis studies

In this project accelerator mass spectrometry at the 14-million volt accelerator at ANU is used to determine nuclear reaction probabilities relevant for astrophysics.

Dr Stefan Pavetich, Emeritus Professor Keith Fifield, A/Prof Stephen Tims

Neutron stars: understanding physics at the extreme

Neutron stars are a unique laboratory for probing physics under the greatest extremes of density and gravity, far beyond what is capable in terrestrial laboratories.  This project aims to use gravitational wave discoveries and electromagnetic observations of neutron stars to examine fundamental physics.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Tracking radon-induced backgrounds in the CYGNO directional dark matter detector

This project investigates radon-induced backgrounds in the CYGNO directional dark matter detector. The student will develop an event-by-event simulation of radioactive decay chains and use alpha particle signatures to infer low-energy backgrounds, contributing to the understanding of detector performance using recent experimental data.

Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Dr Alasdair McLean, Dr Lindsey Bignell, Professor Gregory Lane

Simulating cosmic-ray interactions with materials for dark matter and commercial applications

This project uses Geant4 simulations to investigate how naturally occurring cosmic rays interact with materials relevant to physics and environmental research, including NaI(Tl) crystals, gaseous detectors, and soil.

Dr Yiyi Zhong, Dr Lindsey Bignell

The intersection of nuclear structure and nuclear scattering

This project explores nuclear scattering using shell-model-derived potentials to better understand complex nuclear interactions. Students will enhance coding skills, deepen quantum mechanics knowledge, and apply high-performance computing to study processes relevant to nuclear astrophysics and nucleosynthesis, shedding light on the origins of the chemical elements. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Radioimpurities in particle detectors for dark matter studies

This experiment will characterise dark matter detector material. Lowest levels of natural radioactivity in high purity samples will be analysed via ultra-senstive single atom counting using acclerator mass spectrometry.

Dr Michaela Froehlich , Dr Yiyi Zhong, Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, A/Prof Stephen Tims

How does a black hole ring?

We study the numerical waveforms for the gravitational waves emitted during the black hole ringdown stage, implement tools and data analysis frameworks, and analyze the latest gravitational-wave data to estimate black hole properties and test the general theory of relativity.

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Calibrate gravitational wave detectors

For gravitational-wave detections and analyses, the raw outputs from the gravitational-wave detectors need to be converted into analysable data through some calibration apparatus. This project investigates new techniques to improve calibration accuracy and precision and better integrate the calibration bias into astrophysical analyses. 

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Paving the way to study the chronology of the early solar system

Radionuclides can serve as tracers and chronometers for environmental processes. The time scale for these clocks is set by the half-life of the respective radioisotope. Using accelerator mass spectrometry and decay counting this project aims investigate the chronology of the Early Solar System.

Dr Stefan Pavetich, Dr Michaela Froehlich , A/Prof Stephen Tims, Dr Jackson Dowie

Atomic and Molecular Physics

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Atomic magnetometer for exploring physics beyond the standard model and gyroscopy

Atomic sensors are exquisitely sensitive. We aim to model and build a new generation of atomic sensors to measure magnetic fields, rotation and dark matter. 

Professor Ben Buchler

Exploring the many body physics in an atomic matterwave system with PT symmetry

Investigating the possible enhancement of sensitivity in atomic sensors with PT symmetry and the underlying many body evolution.

Dr Jessica Eastman, Dr Simon Haine

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Measuring and modelling free-ion hyperfine fields

Motivated by exciting prospects for measurements of the magnetism of rare isotopes produced by the new radioactive beam accelerators internationally, this experimental and computational project seeks to understand the enormous magnetic fields produced at the nucleus of highly charged ions by their atomic electron configuration.

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Dr Brendan McCormick, Dr AJ Mitchell

Mass-entangled ultracold helium atoms

This experimental project aims to create entangled states of ultracold helium atoms where the entanglement is between atoms of different mass. By manipulating the entangled pairs using laser induced Bragg transitions and measuring the resulting correlations, we will study how gravity affects mass-entangled particles.

Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Andrew Truscott

Interactions between antimatter and ultracold atoms

Antiparticles and antimatter have progressed from theory and science fiction to become an important and exciting area of pure and applied science. This fundamental atomic physics project will investigate how antimatter and matter interact by experimentally studying the interaction of positrons (the electron anti-particle) with trapped ultracold rubidium atoms.

Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek

Atom-light interactions in quantum memories

Quantum memories store light in atomic ensembles for applications in quantum computing and networking. This project explores how atoms and light interact in prototype quantum memories that use rare earth atoms in crystals for storage, aiming to improve memory efficiency,  storage capacity, and performance in real-world devices.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt, Dr James Stuart

Biophysics

Solid-state nanopore sensors: Unveiling new frontiers in biomolecule detection

Investigate novel nanopore bio-sensors using nanofabrication, bio-chemsity and machine learning.

Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Shankar Dutt

Protein aggregation at the single-molecule level using solid-state nanopores

Protein aggregation drives neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, yet the short-lived intermediates at its heart vanish before conventional techniques can see them. This project uses solid-state nanopores to watch aggregation one molecule at a time, revealing how these diseases progress and generate knowledge essential to developing effective treatments.

Dr Shankar Dutt, Prof Patrick Kluth

3D Electron Diffraction / MicroED at ANU

Project aims to develop new tools for 3D electron diffraction data acquisition and analysis using state of the art detector.

Dr Felipe Kremer

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Nanofluidic Processing of Biological Samples for Single-Molecule Detection

Solid-state nanopores detect disease biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity, but real samples like blood are crowded with cells, proteins and salts that overwhelm them. This project designs micro- and nanofluidic chips that separate and enrich the molecules that matter, feeding them directly into nanopore sensors for rapid, real-world diagnostics.

Dr Shankar Dutt, Prof Patrick Kluth

Femtosecond laser for ultra-precise cavity drilling in modern dentistry

Development of efficient, versatile and fast laser femtosecond processes for advanced applications in modern dentistry promising a precise pain-free dental treatment for all patients.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Specific ion effects

We are seeking students to perform fundamental research into how different ions exert influence in a myriad of systems.

Professor Vincent Craig

Understanding drought-resistance in Australian plants with 3D X-ray microscopy

This project will use unique, ANU-designed 3D X-ray microscopes and state-of-the art image analysis to track physiological responses of drought-tolerant Australian plants when subjected to water stress. The results will help us understand the mechanisms that underpin drought-tolerance, helping resolve ongoing debates and helping understand which forest eco-systems that are most vulnerable to climate change, and why.

Prof Adrian Sheppard, Dr Levi Beeching, Dr Andrew Kingston

Clean Energy

Machine learning approaches for nuclear fusion reactions

Proton-boron fusion has the potential to deliver limitless clean energy. This project will aims to understand the physics underpinng this important nuclear reaction by developing machine learning approaches to analyse complex reaction probabilities.

Dr Edward Simpson

Engineering in Physics

Fibre optic sensor arrays for vibrometry and acoustic sensing

By leveraging hybrid digital-optical methods, we develop new distributed and quasi-distributed fibre-optic acoustic sensors. These acoustic sensors aim to measure vibration, strain and displacement all while localising the signal source along an optical fibre.

Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Keshu Huang, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen

Terahertz polarisation optics

This project will pioneer compact, low-loss terahertz polarisation optics—polarisers, waveplates, and circular polarisers—by harnessing artificial birefringence in metamaterials to overcome the limitations of natural crystals.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Mr Oleg Kameshkov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Dual torsion pendulum for quantum noise limited sensing

Construct a small dual tosion pendulum which have their centre of mass co-incide and their rotational axis colinear. Inital diagnostics will be done using shadow sensors.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Sheon Chua, Professor Robert Ward

Femtosecond pulse laser cleaning platform for the maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

This project investigates the physics of femtosecond-pulse laser cleaning for maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It focuses on ultrafast laser–material interactions, selective ablation of corrosion and coatings, energy deposition and thermal effects, with the aim of developing an effective cleaning platform that minimises damage to the underlying steel.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Engineering Inter-spacecraft laser links

Research fields
  • Photonics, Lasers and Nonlinear Optic
  • Engineering in Physics
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dr Andrew Wade, Dr Emily Rose Rees

Miniature absolute gravimeter

Absolute gravimeters tie their measurement of gravity to the definition of the second 
by interrogating the position of a falling test mass using a laser interferometer. Our vision is to develop and prototype a miniaturised absolute gravimeter by 
leveraging modern vacuum, laser, and micro-electromechanical systems.

Dr Samuel Legge

Gravimeter data and tidal analysis

The acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is not constant, but varies slightly over time due to the tidal influence of the Sun and Moon. These tidal signals are the largest periodic variations in gravity and are understood theoretically through models that combine celestial mechanics and geophysics.

Dr Samuel Legge

Nuclear lifetimes - developing new apparatus and methods

The measurement of the lifetimes of excited nuclear states is foundational for understanding nuclear excitations. This project covers three measurement methods that together span the nuclear lifetime range from about 100 femtoseconds to many nanoseconds. The project can include equipment development, measurement, and the development of analysis methodology (programming and computation). 

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Ultra-fast lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states

Atomic nuclei can behave as collections of individual particles or as strongly collective quantum systems. This project uses precision gamma-ray spectroscopy and ultra-fast lifetime measurements to investigate how and why these behaviours emerge, providing new insights into nuclear structure and the forces that govern atomic nuclei.

Professor Gregory Lane, Dr AJ Mitchell, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery

Vibration control for optical interferometry

Develop an active vibraiton isolation platform to provide a quiet, small displacement environment for high precision inteferometry.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Sheon Chua, Professor Robert Ward

Rewriting the nuclear physics textbooks: Testing the Vibrational Model of atomic nuclei

For decades, many excited states in atomic nuclei have been interpreted as surface vibrations. New experimental evidence suggests this picture may be incomplete. This project uses Coulomb excitation and transfer reactions to investigate nuclear shapes and collective motion, helping to test ideas that underpin modern descriptions of atomic nuclei.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Professor Gregory Lane

Are atomic nuclei losing their 'magic'? Experimental tests of the Nuclear Shell Model

The Nuclear Shell Model has shaped our understanding of atomic nuclei for more than 75 years, yet recent experiments challenge some of its key predictions. This project uses particle-transfer reactions and the Enge Magnetic Spectrometer to probe nuclear structure, giving students hands-on experience with experiments, instrumentation, and data analysis.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery

The physics (and mathematics) of Artificial Intelligence

What is the environmental impact of using an AI chatbot? It is possible to model this from first principles by considering the GPU energy usage and the water required for cooling data centres. This project aims to estimate the joules of energy, litres of water and grams of carbon dioxide released from each LLM chatbot response.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Higher-order mode displacement sensors

A project to advance a prototype displacement sensor to test-type phase, via improved compact mechanical design,  vacuum compatibility, and improved sensor testing.

Dr Sheon Chua, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Shreevathsa Chalathadka Subrahmanya

Developing ultra-high resolution optical meta-surface sensors

The project aims to develop methods to improve the sensitivity of optical metasurfaces for the detection of chemical and biological markers. By tailoring a high-precision optical interferometric sensing solution to the optical properties of a metasurface under-test, the project will improve the sensitivity of these devices, developing a new range of targeted ultra-precise metasurface sensors.

Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Prof Dragomir Neshev

Machine learning for optics and controls

Optical cavities are widely used in physics and precision measurement.  This project will explore the use of modern machine learning methods for the control of suspended optical cavities.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Jiayi Qin, Professor Robert Ward

Calibrate gravitational wave detectors

For gravitational-wave detections and analyses, the raw outputs from the gravitational-wave detectors need to be converted into analysable data through some calibration apparatus. This project investigates new techniques to improve calibration accuracy and precision and better integrate the calibration bias into astrophysical analyses. 

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Environmental Physics

High pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems

The goal of this research is to study high pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems with applications to space, waste treatment and material science.

A/Prof Cormac Corr, Ms Ash Pascale

Total recall – memory effects in negative ion sources

This project investigates contamination effects in negative ion sources used for accelerator mass spectrometry particularly relevant for the measurement of ultra-trace amounts of the long-lived radionuclides Chlorine-36 and Iodine-129 in environmental samples.

Dr Stefan Pavetich, Emeritus Professor Keith Fifield, Dr Jackson Dowie

Surface forces and the behaviour of colloidal systems

We measure the basic forces that operate between molecules that are manifest at interfaces. These forces control the stability of colloidal systems from blood to toothpaste. We use very sensitive techniques that are able to measure tiny forces with sub nanometer distance resolution. Understanding these forces enables us to predict how a huge variety of colloidal systems will behave.

Professor Vincent Craig

Montebello Islands - A former nuclear test site

This project investigates anthropogenic radionuclides from the 1950s–60s nuclear tests in various marine sample types near the Montebello Islands. By analysing isotopic signatures, it aims to distinguish contributions from Montebello and Pacific Proving Ground tests, supporting environmental tracing, dose assessment, and collaboration with institutions like ANSTO and ARPANSA.

Dr Michaela Froehlich , Ms Madison Williams-Hoffman

Nanobubbles

Nanobubbles are simply nanosized bubbles. What makes them interesting? Theory tells us they should dissolve in less than a second but they are in some cases stable for days.

Professor Vincent Craig

Strontium-90 in the environment

Strontium is a naturally occurring element that accumulates in bones, with its radioactive isotope Sr-90 posing environmental concerns due its presence in nature.

Dr Michaela Froehlich , Dr Stefan Pavetich, A/Prof Stephen Tims

Radioactivity in our environment

Radionuclides such as 236U and 239Pu were introduced into the environment by the atmospheric nuclear weapon tests and an be readily measured by accelerator mass spectrometry.

Dr Michaela Froehlich

The physics (and mathematics) of Artificial Intelligence

What is the environmental impact of using an AI chatbot? It is possible to model this from first principles by considering the GPU energy usage and the water required for cooling data centres. This project aims to estimate the joules of energy, litres of water and grams of carbon dioxide released from each LLM chatbot response.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Fusion and Plasma Confinement

The effect of He irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of W/ W alloys

Nuclear fusion is a promising technology for solving the world’s energy crisis while drastically reducing pollution and avoiding the creation of nuclear waste, a major issue for nuclear fission. However, there are many scientific and technical challenges to be overcome before this technology can be used for large-scale energy generation. One of the problems that need to be solved is the tolerance of the diverter walls to the high temperatures and He implantation – conditions that are prevalent inside the fusion reactors.

A/Prof Cormac Corr

Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions

This project involves studying the complex plasma-surface interaction region of a fusion-relevant plasma environment through laser-based and spectroscopic techniques.

A/Prof Cormac Corr

Machine learning approaches for nuclear fusion reactions

Proton-boron fusion has the potential to deliver limitless clean energy. This project will aims to understand the physics underpinng this important nuclear reaction by developing machine learning approaches to analyse complex reaction probabilities.

Dr Edward Simpson

Materials Science and Engineering

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Quantum chemistry modelling of rare earth crystals for quantum technologies

Quantum technology applications of rare earth crystals would benefit from accurate ab-initio models of how quantum properties arise from fundamental atom-atom interactions in crystals. In this project, we will adapt recent advances in molecular quantum chemistry models to rare earth crystals and apply them to quantum technology problems.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt

Nanofluidic diodes: from biosensors to water treatment

Controlling the flow of ions and molecules through nano-sized pores is fundamental in many biological processes and the basis for applications such as DNA detection, water desalination and drug delivery. The project aims to develop solid-state nanofluidic diodes and exploit their properties for applications in bio-sensors and ion-selective channels.

Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Shankar Dutt

The effect of He irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of W/ W alloys

Nuclear fusion is a promising technology for solving the world’s energy crisis while drastically reducing pollution and avoiding the creation of nuclear waste, a major issue for nuclear fission. However, there are many scientific and technical challenges to be overcome before this technology can be used for large-scale energy generation. One of the problems that need to be solved is the tolerance of the diverter walls to the high temperatures and He implantation – conditions that are prevalent inside the fusion reactors.

A/Prof Cormac Corr

Crystal Phase Engineering for Efficient Green-Emitting LEDs

This project addresses the LED “green gap” problem by engineering GaP and AlInP nanostructures to adopt the hexagonal wurtzite phase, transforming them into direct bandgap semiconductors. Using the crystal structure transfer technique, it aims to achieve efficient green emission, enabling true white RGB displays, advanced lighting, and next-generation microdisplays.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Neutron and X-ray imaging/tomography techniques at ANSTO & Australian Synchrotron

This project involves working with scientists from imaging beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron (IMBL, XFM, MCT) and the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor (DINGO) to develop multi-modal, multi-scale, and dynamic imaging and tomography techniques alongside computational imaging scientists from ANU.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Glenn Myers

Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions

This project involves studying the complex plasma-surface interaction region of a fusion-relevant plasma environment through laser-based and spectroscopic techniques.

A/Prof Cormac Corr

Efficient optical interconnect for quantum computers

Superconducting and spin qubits are leading quantum computing technologies, but we currently have no way to connect them to optical quantum networks that will make up a future quantum internet. This project will develop an interconnect capable of efficiently converting microwave quantum information from these qubits to optical frequencies.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt, Dr Lara Gillan

3D Electron Diffraction / MicroED at ANU

Project aims to develop new tools for 3D electron diffraction data acquisition and analysis using state of the art detector.

Dr Felipe Kremer

Machine learning for tomographic reconstruction

Machine learning (and in particular deep-learning) methods have been at the centre of amazing progress in the field of computational image analysis. In this project the student will work to develop machine-learning algorithms for tomographic reconstruction, and deploy these algorithms at the ANU CTLab imaging facility.

Dr Glenn Myers, Dr Andrew Kingston

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Electrically Injected Bottom-Up Micro-Cavity Lasers

This project aims to demonstrate electrically injected InP/InAsP micro-ring nanolasers grown by selective area epitaxy. By combining atomically smooth, low-loss cavities with scalable on-chip integration, it addresses a key challenge in nanophotonics. The resulting light sources promise transformative applications in telecommunications, sensing, and next-generation photonic integrated circuits.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Dr Tuomas Haggren, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Ultrashort laser processing for advanced applications

Laser processing is a cutting-edge technique designed for to clean, texture, enhance surfaces in a way not possible with any other method. It is a non-contact process, which does not require the use of chemicals or abrasives, thus eliminating problems of chemical toxicity and corrosive residues.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Professor Andrei Rode

Solving the problem of how to measure a material harder than diamond

In experiments, measuring the hardness of a very hard material is fundamentally challenging. We aim to study the physical mechanics behind nanoindentation measurements to help better measure superhard materials.

Dr Xingshuo Huang, Prof Jodie Bradby

Nanowire photodetectors for photonic and quantum systems

Semiconductor nanowires are emerging nano-materials with substantial opportunities for novel photonic and quantum device applications. This project aims at developing a new generation of high performance NW based photodetectors for a wide range of applications.

Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

X-ray scatter in 3D microscopes

X-ray scatter is most significant when imaging very dense/large samples: e.g. metal parts, large 3D printed components, or samples imaged on the CTLab's new "whole core" scanner. The student will develop methods to correct for its effects, both in-hardware (i.e. at the microscope) and in-software (i.e. image analysis).

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Glenn Myers, Prof Adrian Sheppard

Quantitative x-ray imaging with patterned illumination

In this project the student will explore a cutting-edge "speckle tracking" method for measuring X-ray phase, in which computational image analysis is used to infer the X-ray phase from deformations in a known speckle pattern. This has both theoretical and experimental components.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Glenn Myers

Phase contrast in a 3D X-ray microscope

This project will involve building a model of several theoretically-complex X-ray behaviours within the microscopes at the ANU CTLab, drawing from: spatial partial-coherence, refraction, machine learning, and spectral interactions. The student will then apply this model to improve imaging capabilities at the ANU CTLab.

Dr Glenn Myers, Dr Andrew Kingston, Prof Adrian Sheppard

Effect of Alpha Radiation on Radioisotope Source Materials

Work with RadInnovate (ARC Training Centre) and industry partner AdvanCell on an MPhil to characterise materials for use in their Th-228 radiopharmaceutical source and generator. A fully funded stipend and top-up are available, along with an industry placement.

Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Dr Tom Ratcliff, Ms Madison Williams-Hoffman, Mrs Ingrid McCarthy

Characterisation of germanium based alloys for making mid-infrared photodetector

This project investigates germanium (Ge) based alloy films as a material for infrared photodetectors. The focuses are the structural and electronic properties of fabricated alloys via different methods, including ion implantation and deposition growth, and their impact on device performance.

Dr Xingshuo Huang, Emeritus Professor Jim Williams, Mr Michael Eksteen

A gateway to new material states

This project explores how ultrafast, high-intensity lasers create exotic non-equilibrium material states by branching high-energy electrons and stabilising new crystalline or amorphous phases through ultrafast quenching. Students investigate fundamental mechanisms of relativistic laser–matter interactions, aiming to produce and analyse high-energy-density matter with unusual physical and chemical properties.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Ultrafast laser cleaning - The light touch

Laser Cleaning is a cutting-edge technique designed for removal of contamination layers from solid surfaces by irradiating the surface with a laser beam. It is a non-contact process, which does not require the use of chemicals or abrasives, eliminating problems of chemical toxicity, corrosive residues, and erasure of surface structure. 

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions

We are studying colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions. Here a number of surprising and unexplained things happen that are associated with surprisingly long-ranged electrostatic forces

Professor Vincent Craig

Nano-Scale III-V Light Sources on Si

This project tackles the long-standing challenge of integrating efficient light sources on silicon by enabling direct epitaxy of InP/InAsP nanostructures. By engineering the III-V/Si interface to overcome lattice and polarity mismatch, it aims to unlock scalable, energy-efficient Si photonics critical for AI data centres and next-generation computing infrastructure.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Tomography of dynamic processes (3D movies)

Generating 3D volumes, i.e., tomography, of an object as it changes over time  (or evolves) is a challenging problem. The ability to achieve this would reveal new information and understanding of many dynamic processes.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Prof Adrian Sheppard, Dr Glenn Myers

III-V nanowire arrays for ultra-sensitive, selective, and flexible gas sensing applications

This project aims at design, fabrication, and characterisation of advanced III-V semiconductor nanowire gas sensors for environmental and healthcare monitoring.

Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li

Shape engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for novel device applications

This project aims to investigate the growth of III-V semiconductors on pre-patterned nanotemplates. By using different shapes and geometries, it is envisaged that these nanostructures will provide novel architectures for advanced, next generation optoelectronic devices.

Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Nanoscience and Nanotechnology

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Nanofluidic diodes: from biosensors to water treatment

Controlling the flow of ions and molecules through nano-sized pores is fundamental in many biological processes and the basis for applications such as DNA detection, water desalination and drug delivery. The project aims to develop solid-state nanofluidic diodes and exploit their properties for applications in bio-sensors and ion-selective channels.

Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Shankar Dutt

Solid-state nanopore sensors: Unveiling new frontiers in biomolecule detection

Investigate novel nanopore bio-sensors using nanofabrication, bio-chemsity and machine learning.

Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Shankar Dutt

Terahertz polarisation optics

This project will pioneer compact, low-loss terahertz polarisation optics—polarisers, waveplates, and circular polarisers—by harnessing artificial birefringence in metamaterials to overcome the limitations of natural crystals.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Mr Oleg Kameshkov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Protein aggregation at the single-molecule level using solid-state nanopores

Protein aggregation drives neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's, yet the short-lived intermediates at its heart vanish before conventional techniques can see them. This project uses solid-state nanopores to watch aggregation one molecule at a time, revealing how these diseases progress and generate knowledge essential to developing effective treatments.

Dr Shankar Dutt, Prof Patrick Kluth

Positron Annihilation Spectroscopy

Understanding material defects at the atomic scale using anitmatter.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Professor Stephen Buckman

Nanofluidic Processing of Biological Samples for Single-Molecule Detection

Solid-state nanopores detect disease biomarkers with exceptional sensitivity, but real samples like blood are crowded with cells, proteins and salts that overwhelm them. This project designs micro- and nanofluidic chips that separate and enrich the molecules that matter, feeding them directly into nanopore sensors for rapid, real-world diagnostics.

Dr Shankar Dutt, Prof Patrick Kluth

Nanowire lasers for applications in nanophotonics

This project aims to investigate the concepts and strategies required to produce electrically injected semiconductor nanowire lasers by understanding light interaction in nanowires, designing appropriate structures to inject current, engineer the optical profile and developing nano-fabrication technologies. Electrically operated nanowire lasers would enable practical applications in nanophotonics.

Professor Chennupati Jagadish, Professor Hoe Tan

Optical chirality in metaphotonics structures

Many phenomena in nature, including multiple chemical and biological processes, are governed by the fundamental property of chirality. An object is called chiral when its mirror image cannot be superimposed with the original object. Many examples of chirality can be found in nature, from seashells to DNA molecules.  
 

Professor Yuri Kivshar, Mr Ivan Toftul

Specific ion effects

We are seeking students to perform fundamental research into how different ions exert influence in a myriad of systems.

Professor Vincent Craig

Laser-written nanostructures for future photonics

Use lasers to sculpt matter at the nanoscale! In this project you’ll create shimmering holographic patterns and functional nanostructures on metals and glasses, exploring their applications in photonics, anti-counterfeiting, and smart coatings—all while uncovering the physics of light–matter interaction.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya

Surface forces and the behaviour of colloidal systems

We measure the basic forces that operate between molecules that are manifest at interfaces. These forces control the stability of colloidal systems from blood to toothpaste. We use very sensitive techniques that are able to measure tiny forces with sub nanometer distance resolution. Understanding these forces enables us to predict how a huge variety of colloidal systems will behave.

Professor Vincent Craig

Bottom-Up Nanolasers for Next-Generation Integrated Nanophotonics

This project develops bottom-up, epitaxially-grown nanolaser cavities with atomically smooth facets that overcome scattering losses in top-down fabricated devices. By exploring advanced cavity concepts—including flatband and topological nanolasers—it aims to deliver robust, scalable, and low-threshold light sources, redefining nanolaser technology for next-generation integrated photonic systems.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Controlling light with nanostructured surfaces

Metasurfaces are ultra-thin nanostructured materials that can shape and control light in extraordinary ways, but to be practical they must be tunable rather than fixed. This project develops liquid crystal–integrated metasurfaces to create reconfigurable flat optical devices for dynamic focusing, beam steering, and advanced sensing.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Optical metamaterials: fundamentals and applications

Experimental and theoretical work on the development of novel nanostructured materials with unusual optical properties. Special attention to our research is the development of tunable and functional nanostructured metamaterials that interact strongly with light. Such materials underpin novel optical technologies ranging from wearable sensors to night-vision devices.

Prof Dragomir Neshev

Nanobubbles

Nanobubbles are simply nanosized bubbles. What makes them interesting? Theory tells us they should dissolve in less than a second but they are in some cases stable for days.

Professor Vincent Craig

Colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions

We are studying colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions. Here a number of surprising and unexplained things happen that are associated with surprisingly long-ranged electrostatic forces

Professor Vincent Craig

Nano-Scale III-V Light Sources on Si

This project tackles the long-standing challenge of integrating efficient light sources on silicon by enabling direct epitaxy of InP/InAsP nanostructures. By engineering the III-V/Si interface to overcome lattice and polarity mismatch, it aims to unlock scalable, energy-efficient Si photonics critical for AI data centres and next-generation computing infrastructure.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

III-V nanowire arrays for ultra-sensitive, selective, and flexible gas sensing applications

This project aims at design, fabrication, and characterisation of advanced III-V semiconductor nanowire gas sensors for environmental and healthcare monitoring.

Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li

Shape engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for novel device applications

This project aims to investigate the growth of III-V semiconductors on pre-patterned nanotemplates. By using different shapes and geometries, it is envisaged that these nanostructures will provide novel architectures for advanced, next generation optoelectronic devices.

Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Resonant metasurfaces for enhanced frequency conversion

This project explores the design and development of nonlinear metasurfaces, ultrathin layered nanostructures capable of enhancing frequency conversion. Using novel design methods, the student will contribute to fabricate and experimentally test free-form metasurfaces with optimised efficiency, directionality, and polarisation, ultimately demonstrating metasurfaces that can surpass the performance of conventional designs.

Prof Dragomir Neshev, Dr Maria del Rocio Camacho-Morales

Photonics, Lasers and Nonlinear Optics

Positron interactions with structured surfaces

We are investigating novel effects and applications using positrons and structured surfaces.

Dr Joshua Machacek, Dr Sergey Kruk

Fibre optic sensor arrays for vibrometry and acoustic sensing

By leveraging hybrid digital-optical methods, we develop new distributed and quasi-distributed fibre-optic acoustic sensors. These acoustic sensors aim to measure vibration, strain and displacement all while localising the signal source along an optical fibre.

Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Keshu Huang, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen

Crystal Phase Engineering for Efficient Green-Emitting LEDs

This project addresses the LED “green gap” problem by engineering GaP and AlInP nanostructures to adopt the hexagonal wurtzite phase, transforming them into direct bandgap semiconductors. Using the crystal structure transfer technique, it aims to achieve efficient green emission, enabling true white RGB displays, advanced lighting, and next-generation microdisplays.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Integrated quantum photonics

The goal of the project is to understand new physical phenomena arising from quantum and nonlinear optical integration. In the future this research may open doors to new types of computers and simulators with information capacity exceeding the number of elementary particles in the entire universe.

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov, Prof Dragomir Neshev

Mid-infrared single-mode waveguides for the LIFE space mission

The Large Interferometer for Exoplanets (LIFE) aims to detect biosignatures on Earth-like planets by collecting mid-infrared spectra. A major challenge is creating low-loss waveguides for spatial filtering. This project explores photonic crystal waveguides, using femtosecond lasers and Bessel beams to fabricate microstructures in transparent crystals for efficient light guidance.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Dr Shan Liu

Femtosecond pulse laser cleaning platform for the maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge

This project investigates the physics of femtosecond-pulse laser cleaning for maintenance of the Sydney Harbour Bridge. It focuses on ultrafast laser–material interactions, selective ablation of corrosion and coatings, energy deposition and thermal effects, with the aim of developing an effective cleaning platform that minimises damage to the underlying steel.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Femtosecond laser cleaning of Aboriginal rock art

This project develops safe, damage-free laser cleaning for Australian Indigenous rock art and historic stone monuments, removing contaminants without altering surfaces. Using ultrashort pulse lasers at multiple wavelengths, it combines laboratory optimization and field-applicable procedures, in collaboration with heritage partners and Indigenous custodians, to restore and preserve culturally and visually significant sites.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Dr Ksenia Maximova

Engineering Inter-spacecraft laser links

Research fields
  • Photonics, Lasers and Nonlinear Optic
  • Engineering in Physics
 
 
 
 
 
 

Dr Andrew Wade, Dr Emily Rose Rees

Metasurface polarization optics and quantum photonics

This project aims for developing polarization optical devices based on all-dielectric metasurfaces. As no bulky optical elements and moving parts are required, these devices are compact, stable, and can operate in a single-shot mode with high time resolution. Potential applications include sensitive biological imaging and quantum state manipulation and tomography. 

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Electrically Injected Bottom-Up Micro-Cavity Lasers

This project aims to demonstrate electrically injected InP/InAsP micro-ring nanolasers grown by selective area epitaxy. By combining atomically smooth, low-loss cavities with scalable on-chip integration, it addresses a key challenge in nanophotonics. The resulting light sources promise transformative applications in telecommunications, sensing, and next-generation photonic integrated circuits.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Dr Tuomas Haggren, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Ultrashort laser processing for advanced applications

Laser processing is a cutting-edge technique designed for to clean, texture, enhance surfaces in a way not possible with any other method. It is a non-contact process, which does not require the use of chemicals or abrasives, thus eliminating problems of chemical toxicity and corrosive residues.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Professor Andrei Rode

Nanowire lasers for applications in nanophotonics

This project aims to investigate the concepts and strategies required to produce electrically injected semiconductor nanowire lasers by understanding light interaction in nanowires, designing appropriate structures to inject current, engineer the optical profile and developing nano-fabrication technologies. Electrically operated nanowire lasers would enable practical applications in nanophotonics.

Professor Chennupati Jagadish, Professor Hoe Tan

Femtosecond laser for ultra-precise cavity drilling in modern dentistry

Development of efficient, versatile and fast laser femtosecond processes for advanced applications in modern dentistry promising a precise pain-free dental treatment for all patients.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Optical chirality in metaphotonics structures

Many phenomena in nature, including multiple chemical and biological processes, are governed by the fundamental property of chirality. An object is called chiral when its mirror image cannot be superimposed with the original object. Many examples of chirality can be found in nature, from seashells to DNA molecules.  
 

Professor Yuri Kivshar, Mr Ivan Toftul

Nanowire photodetectors for photonic and quantum systems

Semiconductor nanowires are emerging nano-materials with substantial opportunities for novel photonic and quantum device applications. This project aims at developing a new generation of high performance NW based photodetectors for a wide range of applications.

Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Quantum squeezed states for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors

Using non-classical light states on laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, to further enhance the best length measurement devices in the world.

Professor Robert Ward, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland

Laser-written nanostructures for future photonics

Use lasers to sculpt matter at the nanoscale! In this project you’ll create shimmering holographic patterns and functional nanostructures on metals and glasses, exploring their applications in photonics, anti-counterfeiting, and smart coatings—all while uncovering the physics of light–matter interaction.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Vladlen Shvedov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya

Bottom-Up Nanolasers for Next-Generation Integrated Nanophotonics

This project develops bottom-up, epitaxially-grown nanolaser cavities with atomically smooth facets that overcome scattering losses in top-down fabricated devices. By exploring advanced cavity concepts—including flatband and topological nanolasers—it aims to deliver robust, scalable, and low-threshold light sources, redefining nanolaser technology for next-generation integrated photonic systems.

Dr Wei Wen Wong, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish

Controlling light with nanostructured surfaces

Metasurfaces are ultra-thin nanostructured materials that can shape and control light in extraordinary ways, but to be practical they must be tunable rather than fixed. This project develops liquid crystal–integrated metasurfaces to create reconfigurable flat optical devices for dynamic focusing, beam steering, and advanced sensing.

Professor Ilya Shadrivov, Dr Yana Izdebskaya, Dr Vladlen Shvedov

Metaphotonics and Mie-tronics with resonant dielectric structures

This project will address the recently emerged new platform for nanophotonics based on high-index dielectric nanoparticles that opened a whole new realm of all-dielectric Mie-resonant nanophotonics or Mie-tronics. High-index dielectric nanoparticles exhibit strong interaction with light due to the excitation of electric and magnetic dipolar Mie-type resonances.

Professor Yuri Kivshar, Mr Ivan Toftul

Optical metamaterials: fundamentals and applications

Experimental and theoretical work on the development of novel nanostructured materials with unusual optical properties. Special attention to our research is the development of tunable and functional nanostructured metamaterials that interact strongly with light. Such materials underpin novel optical technologies ranging from wearable sensors to night-vision devices.

Prof Dragomir Neshev

A gateway to new material states

This project explores how ultrafast, high-intensity lasers create exotic non-equilibrium material states by branching high-energy electrons and stabilising new crystalline or amorphous phases through ultrafast quenching. Students investigate fundamental mechanisms of relativistic laser–matter interactions, aiming to produce and analyse high-energy-density matter with unusual physical and chemical properties.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Ultrafast laser cleaning - The light touch

Laser Cleaning is a cutting-edge technique designed for removal of contamination layers from solid surfaces by irradiating the surface with a laser beam. It is a non-contact process, which does not require the use of chemicals or abrasives, eliminating problems of chemical toxicity, corrosive residues, and erasure of surface structure. 

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp

Higher-order mode displacement sensors

A project to advance a prototype displacement sensor to test-type phase, via improved compact mechanical design,  vacuum compatibility, and improved sensor testing.

Dr Sheon Chua, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Shreevathsa Chalathadka Subrahmanya

Developing ultra-high resolution optical meta-surface sensors

The project aims to develop methods to improve the sensitivity of optical metasurfaces for the detection of chemical and biological markers. By tailoring a high-precision optical interferometric sensing solution to the optical properties of a metasurface under-test, the project will improve the sensitivity of these devices, developing a new range of targeted ultra-precise metasurface sensors.

Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Prof Dragomir Neshev

Nonlinear quantum photonics with novel 2D materials

This project investigates novel 2D materials for compact quantum photonic devices. Students will fabricate and characterize material thin films, study their nonlinear optical properties, and use experimental data to simulate metasurfaces for entangled-photon generation, gaining hands-on experience in nanofabrication, optical characterization, nonlinear optics, and quantum photonics.

Mr Sebastian Klimmer, Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Quantum photonics with nanostructured metasurfaces

Metasurface can the generation and manipulation of polarization-entangled photon pairs at the nanoscale.

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Nonlinear topological photonics

The project bridges the fundamental physics of topological phases with nonlinear optics. This promising synergy is expected to unlock advanced functionalities for applications in optical sources, frequency combs, isolators and multiplexers, switches and modulators, both for classical and quantum light. 

Assoc Professor Daria Smirnova

Resonant metasurfaces for enhanced frequency conversion

This project explores the design and development of nonlinear metasurfaces, ultrathin layered nanostructures capable of enhancing frequency conversion. Using novel design methods, the student will contribute to fabricate and experimentally test free-form metasurfaces with optimised efficiency, directionality, and polarisation, ultimately demonstrating metasurfaces that can surpass the performance of conventional designs.

Prof Dragomir Neshev, Dr Maria del Rocio Camacho-Morales

Machine learning for optics and controls

Optical cavities are widely used in physics and precision measurement.  This project will explore the use of modern machine learning methods for the control of suspended optical cavities.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Jiayi Qin, Professor Robert Ward

Optical nanoantennas

Antennas are at the heart of modern radio and microwave frequency communications technologies. They are the front-ends in satellites, cell-phones, laptops and other devices that make communication by sending and receiving radio waves. This project aims to design analog of optical nanoantennas for visible light for advanced optical communiction. 

Prof Dragomir Neshev

Physics Education

Evaluating the Spin-First Approach to Teaching Quantum Computing

This project analyses pre- and post-test data from students learning quantum computing through the spin-first approach. The aim is to evaluate question reliability, identify learning gains, and help develop a validated concept inventory tailored to this increasingly common teaching method.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Automated marking of astronomy questions: can AI read the night sky?

Since 2024, Large Language Models have become the standard tool used for automated marking of physics exams, especially for hand-written exams and questions which involve diagrams. Nobody has tested them on astronomy questions where students annotate a projection of the night sky. This project benchmarks LLMs against classical computer-vision methods on marking constellation and object identification tasks.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Measuring conceptual understanding in astrophysics: building and validating a new concept inventory

This project develops a new concept inventory for astronomy and astrophysics. The key stages include expert interviews, question design and stastical validation with student cohorts.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Physics of Fluids

Understanding drought-resistance in Australian plants with 3D X-ray microscopy

This project will use unique, ANU-designed 3D X-ray microscopes and state-of-the art image analysis to track physiological responses of drought-tolerant Australian plants when subjected to water stress. The results will help us understand the mechanisms that underpin drought-tolerance, helping resolve ongoing debates and helping understand which forest eco-systems that are most vulnerable to climate change, and why.

Prof Adrian Sheppard, Dr Levi Beeching, Dr Andrew Kingston

Physics of the Nucleus

Understanding energy dissipation in colliding quantum many-body systems

This project aims to gain fundamental insights into the mechanisms of energy dissipation in nuclear collisions by making new measurements that will aid in the development of new models of nuclear fusion.

Dr Kaitlin Cook, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Emeritus Professor David Hinde, Dr Jacob Buete

How do we make the next superheavy nucleus?

This project aims to make measurements that help inform us on how new superheavy elements can be made in the lab. 

Dr Jacob Buete, Dr Kaitlin Cook, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Emeritus Professor David Hinde

Time dependence of nuclear fusion

This project will allow us to understand the time-dependence of quantum tunnelling and nuclear fusion.

Dr Edward Simpson

Advanced detector development for rare event particle physics

Experimental, simulation, and data analysis projects are available to help develop advanced detection technology which will form the basis of a future large particle physics experiment in Australia

Dr Lindsey Bignell, Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Miss Victoria Bashu, Professor Gregory Lane

Active radon removal in directional dark matter detectors

Directional dark matter searches provide a way to probe beyond the irreducible ‘neutrino fog’ that limits traditional dark matter experiments. CYGNUS-OZ is part of the global directional dark matter effort, and this project focuses on the critical challenge of radon control in these detectors.

Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Dr Lindsey Bignell, Professor Gregory Lane

Measuring and modelling free-ion hyperfine fields

Motivated by exciting prospects for measurements of the magnetism of rare isotopes produced by the new radioactive beam accelerators internationally, this experimental and computational project seeks to understand the enormous magnetic fields produced at the nucleus of highly charged ions by their atomic electron configuration.

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Dr Brendan McCormick, Dr AJ Mitchell

Nuclear lifetimes - developing new apparatus and methods

The measurement of the lifetimes of excited nuclear states is foundational for understanding nuclear excitations. This project covers three measurement methods that together span the nuclear lifetime range from about 100 femtoseconds to many nanoseconds. The project can include equipment development, measurement, and the development of analysis methodology (programming and computation). 

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Nuclear magnetism - magnetic moment measurements

This project builds on our established track record of developing novel methods to measure magnetic moments of picosecond-lived excited states in atomic nuclei, and the theoretical interpretation of those measurements. Students will help establish new methodologies to underpin future international research at the world's leading radioactive beam laboratories.

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Ultra-fast lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states

Atomic nuclei can behave as collections of individual particles or as strongly collective quantum systems. This project uses precision gamma-ray spectroscopy and ultra-fast lifetime measurements to investigate how and why these behaviours emerge, providing new insights into nuclear structure and the forces that govern atomic nuclei.

Professor Gregory Lane, Dr AJ Mitchell, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery

Effect of nuclear structure on dark matter-nucleus interactions

We investigate the impact of nuclear structure on the interaction of a dark matter particle with a nucleus. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq

Measuring electric quadrupole moments - the shapes of atomic nuclei

New methods to determine the shapes of atomic nuclei via the measurement of their electric quadrupole moment are being developed. Most nuclei are prolate spheroids - shaped like an Australian Rules football. As well as giving a picture of the nucleus, the quadrupole moment is an important observable to test theory. 

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Exploring atomic nuclei at the limits of their existence

Some atomic nuclei are so neutron-rich that they survive for only fractions of a second before decaying. This project uses beta decay and gamma-ray spectroscopy to study these rare systems, revealing how nuclei behave at the limits of existence and how heavy elements are created in stellar explosions.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane

Impact of nuclear structure on dark matter direct detection

Quantum many-body modelling of the atomic nucleus will help us understand how dark matter particles interact with atomic nuclei, as well as how many scattering events we can expect in underground laboratory search for dark matter. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq, Dr Navneet Krishnan, Professor Cedric Simenel

Effect of Alpha Radiation on Radioisotope Source Materials

Work with RadInnovate (ARC Training Centre) and industry partner AdvanCell on an MPhil to characterise materials for use in their Th-228 radiopharmaceutical source and generator. A fully funded stipend and top-up are available, along with an industry placement.

Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Dr Tom Ratcliff, Ms Madison Williams-Hoffman, Mrs Ingrid McCarthy

Rewriting the nuclear physics textbooks: Testing the Vibrational Model of atomic nuclei

For decades, many excited states in atomic nuclei have been interpreted as surface vibrations. New experimental evidence suggests this picture may be incomplete. This project uses Coulomb excitation and transfer reactions to investigate nuclear shapes and collective motion, helping to test ideas that underpin modern descriptions of atomic nuclei.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Professor Gregory Lane

Are atomic nuclei losing their 'magic'? Experimental tests of the Nuclear Shell Model

The Nuclear Shell Model has shaped our understanding of atomic nuclei for more than 75 years, yet recent experiments challenge some of its key predictions. This project uses particle-transfer reactions and the Enge Magnetic Spectrometer to probe nuclear structure, giving students hands-on experience with experiments, instrumentation, and data analysis.

Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery

Simulation of radiation in large complex environments

This project aims to develop new methods to rapidly simulate radiation in large complex environments to support the identification of radiological threats and accident response.

Mr James Stuchbery, Dr Edward Simpson

Towards a global understanding of nuclear fission

Improved understandings of nuclear fission is key for many areas of science, including heavy element formation in supernova and neutron-star mergers, making safer nuclear reactors, and the formation and properties of long-lived superheavy isotopes. Students involved in this project will further our understanding of fission across the chart of nuclides.

Dr Kaitlin Cook, Emeritus Professor David Hinde, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Dr Jacob Buete

Neutron stars: understanding physics at the extreme

Neutron stars are a unique laboratory for probing physics under the greatest extremes of density and gravity, far beyond what is capable in terrestrial laboratories.  This project aims to use gravitational wave discoveries and electromagnetic observations of neutron stars to examine fundamental physics.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Tracking radon-induced backgrounds in the CYGNO directional dark matter detector

This project investigates radon-induced backgrounds in the CYGNO directional dark matter detector. The student will develop an event-by-event simulation of radioactive decay chains and use alpha particle signatures to infer low-energy backgrounds, contributing to the understanding of detector performance using recent experimental data.

Dr Robert Renz Marcelo Gregorio, Dr Alasdair McLean, Dr Lindsey Bignell, Professor Gregory Lane

Simulating cosmic-ray interactions with materials for dark matter and commercial applications

This project uses Geant4 simulations to investigate how naturally occurring cosmic rays interact with materials relevant to physics and environmental research, including NaI(Tl) crystals, gaseous detectors, and soil.

Dr Yiyi Zhong, Dr Lindsey Bignell

The intersection of nuclear structure and nuclear scattering

This project explores nuclear scattering using shell-model-derived potentials to better understand complex nuclear interactions. Students will enhance coding skills, deepen quantum mechanics knowledge, and apply high-performance computing to study processes relevant to nuclear astrophysics and nucleosynthesis, shedding light on the origins of the chemical elements. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Radioimpurities in particle detectors for dark matter studies

This experiment will characterise dark matter detector material. Lowest levels of natural radioactivity in high purity samples will be analysed via ultra-senstive single atom counting using acclerator mass spectrometry.

Dr Michaela Froehlich , Dr Yiyi Zhong, Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, A/Prof Stephen Tims

Paving the way to study the chronology of the early solar system

Radionuclides can serve as tracers and chronometers for environmental processes. The time scale for these clocks is set by the half-life of the respective radioisotope. Using accelerator mass spectrometry and decay counting this project aims investigate the chronology of the Early Solar System.

Dr Stefan Pavetich, Dr Michaela Froehlich , A/Prof Stephen Tims, Dr Jackson Dowie

Plasma Applications and Technology

High pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems

The goal of this research is to study high pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems with applications to space, waste treatment and material science.

A/Prof Cormac Corr, Ms Ash Pascale

Total recall – memory effects in negative ion sources

This project investigates contamination effects in negative ion sources used for accelerator mass spectrometry particularly relevant for the measurement of ultra-trace amounts of the long-lived radionuclides Chlorine-36 and Iodine-129 in environmental samples.

Dr Stefan Pavetich, Emeritus Professor Keith Fifield, Dr Jackson Dowie

Quantum Science and Technology

Evaluating the Spin-First Approach to Teaching Quantum Computing

This project analyses pre- and post-test data from students learning quantum computing through the spin-first approach. The aim is to evaluate question reliability, identify learning gains, and help develop a validated concept inventory tailored to this increasingly common teaching method.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Atomic magnetometer for exploring physics beyond the standard model and gyroscopy

Atomic sensors are exquisitely sensitive. We aim to model and build a new generation of atomic sensors to measure magnetic fields, rotation and dark matter. 

Professor Ben Buchler

Controlling quantum turbulence in atomic superfluids

Turbulence is one of the most important unsolved problems in modern physics, underpinning universal phenomena from galactic formation to heat and pollutant transport in our atmosphere and oceans. This project seeks to theoretically investigate turbulence in superfluids, and introduce methods of controlling the system dynamics using quantum feedback control.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Professor Joseph Hope, Dr Simon Haine

Quantum chemistry modelling of rare earth crystals for quantum technologies

Quantum technology applications of rare earth crystals would benefit from accurate ab-initio models of how quantum properties arise from fundamental atom-atom interactions in crystals. In this project, we will adapt recent advances in molecular quantum chemistry models to rare earth crystals and apply them to quantum technology problems.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt

Experimental quantum simulation with ultracold metastable Helium atoms in an optical lattice

This project will construct a 3D optical lattice apparatus for ultracold metastable Helium atoms, which will form an experimental quantum-simulator to investigate quantum many-body physics. A range of experiments will be performed such as studying higher order quantum correlations across the superfluid to Mott insulator phase transition.

Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Andrew Truscott

Efficient optical interconnect for quantum computers

Superconducting and spin qubits are leading quantum computing technologies, but we currently have no way to connect them to optical quantum networks that will make up a future quantum internet. This project will develop an interconnect capable of efficiently converting microwave quantum information from these qubits to optical frequencies.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt, Dr Lara Gillan

Quantum Light for Secure Communications

This project explores how the quantum properties of light can be used to develop new approaches to secure optical communication. Students will investigate squeezed light, optical measurements and information encoding, and explore how quantum correlations can enable communication capabilities beyond conventional optical systems.

Dr Jiayi Qin, Dr Jie Zhao

Quantum Communication for Secure and Anonymous Voting

This project explores how quantum communication could enable secure and anonymous voting between multiple participants. Students will investigate how quantum states of light, communication networks and information processing can be combined to protect both voting information and voter privacy.

Dr Jiayi Qin, Dr Jie Zhao

Integrated quantum photonics

The goal of the project is to understand new physical phenomena arising from quantum and nonlinear optical integration. In the future this research may open doors to new types of computers and simulators with information capacity exceeding the number of elementary particles in the entire universe.

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov, Prof Dragomir Neshev

Dual torsion pendulum for quantum noise limited sensing

Construct a small dual tosion pendulum which have their centre of mass co-incide and their rotational axis colinear. Inital diagnostics will be done using shadow sensors.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Sheon Chua, Professor Robert Ward

Exploring the many body physics in an atomic matterwave system with PT symmetry

Investigating the possible enhancement of sensitivity in atomic sensors with PT symmetry and the underlying many body evolution.

Dr Jessica Eastman, Dr Simon Haine

Femtosecond laser cleaning of Aboriginal rock art

This project develops safe, damage-free laser cleaning for Australian Indigenous rock art and historic stone monuments, removing contaminants without altering surfaces. Using ultrashort pulse lasers at multiple wavelengths, it combines laboratory optimization and field-applicable procedures, in collaboration with heritage partners and Indigenous custodians, to restore and preserve culturally and visually significant sites.

A/Professor Ludovic Rapp, Dr Ksenia Maximova

Metasurface polarization optics and quantum photonics

This project aims for developing polarization optical devices based on all-dielectric metasurfaces. As no bulky optical elements and moving parts are required, these devices are compact, stable, and can operate in a single-shot mode with high time resolution. Potential applications include sensitive biological imaging and quantum state manipulation and tomography. 

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Prospects of future ground-based gravitational-wave detector network

In this project, we study the gravitational-wave astronomy and astrophysics science cases and observational prospects with future ground-based gravitational-wave observatories.

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland

Miniature absolute gravimeter

Absolute gravimeters tie their measurement of gravity to the definition of the second 
by interrogating the position of a falling test mass using a laser interferometer. Our vision is to develop and prototype a miniaturised absolute gravimeter by 
leveraging modern vacuum, laser, and micro-electromechanical systems.

Dr Samuel Legge

Mass-entangled ultracold helium atoms

This experimental project aims to create entangled states of ultracold helium atoms where the entanglement is between atoms of different mass. By manipulating the entangled pairs using laser induced Bragg transitions and measuring the resulting correlations, we will study how gravity affects mass-entangled particles.

Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Andrew Truscott

Gravimeter data and tidal analysis

The acceleration due to Earth’s gravity is not constant, but varies slightly over time due to the tidal influence of the Sun and Moon. These tidal signals are the largest periodic variations in gravity and are understood theoretically through models that combine celestial mechanics and geophysics.

Dr Samuel Legge

Validating a quantum information science concept inventory with online learners

A new quantum information concept inventory, QISCIT, has been validated by experts but never tested on students. This project administers it to learners in an online quantum computing course and performs the psychometric analysis needed to turn it into a genuine research-based assessment.

Mr Lachlan McGinness

Quantum squeezed states for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors

Using non-classical light states on laser interferometric gravitational-wave detectors, to further enhance the best length measurement devices in the world.

Professor Robert Ward, A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland

Vibration control for optical interferometry

Develop an active vibraiton isolation platform to provide a quiet, small displacement environment for high precision inteferometry.

A/Prof Bram Slagmolen, Dr Sheon Chua, Professor Robert Ward

Interactions between antimatter and ultracold atoms

Antiparticles and antimatter have progressed from theory and science fiction to become an important and exciting area of pure and applied science. This fundamental atomic physics project will investigate how antimatter and matter interact by experimentally studying the interaction of positrons (the electron anti-particle) with trapped ultracold rubidium atoms.

Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek

Next-generation quantum computing with trapped ions

Atoms trapped with electromagnetic fields make excellent building blocks for quantum technologies. This theoretical physics project aims to develop techniques for implementing high-speed logical operations on next-generation trapped-ion quantum computers.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Professor Joseph Hope

Atom-light interactions in quantum memories

Quantum memories store light in atomic ensembles for applications in quantum computing and networking. This project explores how atoms and light interact in prototype quantum memories that use rare earth atoms in crystals for storage, aiming to improve memory efficiency,  storage capacity, and performance in real-world devices.

A/Prof Rose Ahlefeldt, Dr James Stuart

Nonlinear quantum photonics with novel 2D materials

This project investigates novel 2D materials for compact quantum photonic devices. Students will fabricate and characterize material thin films, study their nonlinear optical properties, and use experimental data to simulate metasurfaces for entangled-photon generation, gaining hands-on experience in nanofabrication, optical characterization, nonlinear optics, and quantum photonics.

Mr Sebastian Klimmer, Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Quantum photonics with nanostructured metasurfaces

Metasurface can the generation and manipulation of polarization-entangled photon pairs at the nanoscale.

Prof Andrey Sukhorukov

Illuminating the quantum vacuum: Looking for new physics in light-by-light interactions

This theoretical physics project aims to study an untested prediction of quantum field theory: the scattering of light by light in empty space. Quantum sensors could be used to detect this effect and shed new light on some of the biggest open problems in theoretical physics, including quantum gravity.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Dr Simon Haine, Professor Joseph Hope

Theoretical Physics

Controlling quantum turbulence in atomic superfluids

Turbulence is one of the most important unsolved problems in modern physics, underpinning universal phenomena from galactic formation to heat and pollutant transport in our atmosphere and oceans. This project seeks to theoretically investigate turbulence in superfluids, and introduce methods of controlling the system dynamics using quantum feedback control.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Professor Joseph Hope, Dr Simon Haine

Neutron and X-ray imaging/tomography techniques at ANSTO & Australian Synchrotron

This project involves working with scientists from imaging beamlines at the Australian Synchrotron (IMBL, XFM, MCT) and the Lucas Heights nuclear reactor (DINGO) to develop multi-modal, multi-scale, and dynamic imaging and tomography techniques alongside computational imaging scientists from ANU.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Glenn Myers

Foundations of quantum tunnelling

The project is to improve our understanding and description of quantum tunnelling of interacting particles using tools from quantum field theory, quantum many-body systems, and quantum information. 

Professor Cedric Simenel

Time dependence of nuclear fusion

This project will allow us to understand the time-dependence of quantum tunnelling and nuclear fusion.

Dr Edward Simpson

Nuclear magnetism - magnetic moment measurements

This project builds on our established track record of developing novel methods to measure magnetic moments of picosecond-lived excited states in atomic nuclei, and the theoretical interpretation of those measurements. Students will help establish new methodologies to underpin future international research at the world's leading radioactive beam laboratories.

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Effect of nuclear structure on dark matter-nucleus interactions

We investigate the impact of nuclear structure on the interaction of a dark matter particle with a nucleus. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq

Introduction to quantum integrable systems

The aim of this project is to introduce quantum integrable systems which play a very important role in modern theoretical physics. Such systems provide one of very few ways to analyze nonlinear effects in continuous and discrete quantum systems.

A/Prof Vladimir Mangazeev

Measuring electric quadrupole moments - the shapes of atomic nuclei

New methods to determine the shapes of atomic nuclei via the measurement of their electric quadrupole moment are being developed. Most nuclei are prolate spheroids - shaped like an Australian Rules football. As well as giving a picture of the nucleus, the quadrupole moment is an important observable to test theory. 

Emeritus Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick

Continuous gravitational waves: new methods for new discoveries

The next big discovery in gravitational wave astronomy may be a first detection of continuous gravitational waves from rapidly-spinning neutron stars. This projects aims to develop the data analysis methods needed for such a discovery.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Impact of nuclear structure on dark matter direct detection

Quantum many-body modelling of the atomic nucleus will help us understand how dark matter particles interact with atomic nuclei, as well as how many scattering events we can expect in underground laboratory search for dark matter. 

Ms Raghda Abdel Khaleq, Dr Navneet Krishnan, Professor Cedric Simenel

Metaphotonics and Mie-tronics with resonant dielectric structures

This project will address the recently emerged new platform for nanophotonics based on high-index dielectric nanoparticles that opened a whole new realm of all-dielectric Mie-resonant nanophotonics or Mie-tronics. High-index dielectric nanoparticles exhibit strong interaction with light due to the excitation of electric and magnetic dipolar Mie-type resonances.

Professor Yuri Kivshar, Mr Ivan Toftul

Next-generation quantum computing with trapped ions

Atoms trapped with electromagnetic fields make excellent building blocks for quantum technologies. This theoretical physics project aims to develop techniques for implementing high-speed logical operations on next-generation trapped-ion quantum computers.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Professor Joseph Hope

Stochastic dynamics of interacting systems and integrability

There are many interesting physical statistical systems which never reach thermal equilibrium. Examples include surface growth, diffusion processes or traffic flow. In the absence of general theory of such systems a study of particular models plays a very important role. Integrable systems provide examples of such systems where one can analyze time dynamics using analytic methods.

A/Prof Vladimir Mangazeev

When two neutron stars collide, what is left behind?

In 2017, the first discovery of gravitational waves from two colliding neutron stars heralded a new age of multi-messenger astronomy. But what was left over after the collision? This project aims to find out.

Dr Karl Wette, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

How does a black hole ring?

We study the numerical waveforms for the gravitational waves emitted during the black hole ringdown stage, implement tools and data analysis frameworks, and analyze the latest gravitational-wave data to estimate black hole properties and test the general theory of relativity.

Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Prof Susan Scott

Illuminating the quantum vacuum: Looking for new physics in light-by-light interactions

This theoretical physics project aims to study an untested prediction of quantum field theory: the scattering of light by light in empty space. Quantum sensors could be used to detect this effect and shed new light on some of the biggest open problems in theoretical physics, including quantum gravity.

Dr Zain Mehdi, Dr Simon Haine, Professor Joseph Hope

Optical nanoantennas

Antennas are at the heart of modern radio and microwave frequency communications technologies. They are the front-ends in satellites, cell-phones, laptops and other devices that make communication by sending and receiving radio waves. This project aims to design analog of optical nanoantennas for visible light for advanced optical communiction. 

Prof Dragomir Neshev

Topological and Structural Science

Ghost imaging in the third dimension

In ghost imaging, images are formed based on photons that have never interacted with the sample. 3D ghost imaging was first performed in 2018 by scientists at ANU and international collaborators at the European Synchrotron Radiation Facility: the student will work with these scientists to further advance the field.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Dr Glenn Myers

Tomography of dynamic processes (3D movies)

Generating 3D volumes, i.e., tomography, of an object as it changes over time  (or evolves) is a challenging problem. The ability to achieve this would reveal new information and understanding of many dynamic processes.

Dr Andrew Kingston, Prof Adrian Sheppard, Dr Glenn Myers

Nonlinear topological photonics

The project bridges the fundamental physics of topological phases with nonlinear optics. This promising synergy is expected to unlock advanced functionalities for applications in optical sources, frequency combs, isolators and multiplexers, switches and modulators, both for classical and quantum light. 

Assoc Professor Daria Smirnova