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.
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Astrophysics


Exotic nuclear structure towards the neutron dripline


Paving the way to study the chronology of the early solar system
Dr Stefan Pavetich, Dr Michaela Froehlich , A/Prof Stephen Tims, Mr Dominik Koll


Multi-messenger gravitational-wave astronomy
Distinguished Profes Susan Scott, Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Dr Karl Wette


Radioimpurities in particle detectors for dark matter studies
Dr Michaela Froehlich , Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, A/Prof Stephen Tims, Professor Gregory Lane
Active orbital control systems for nano-sats orbiting the Moon


Optimising a neutron star extreme matter observatory
Dr Bram Slagmolen, Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Prof David McClelland
Determining the orbital characteristics of a constellation of nano-sats orbiting the Moon
In space, no-one can hear you scream. Is this true?


Gravitational waves from ultralight boson clouds around black holes
Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Profes Susan Scott, Dr Karl Wette


Calibration of gravitational wave detectors
Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Dr Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Profes Susan Scott


Gravitational waves from newborn neutron stars
Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Profes Susan Scott, Dr Karl Wette


Continuous gravitational waves from neutron stars
Distinguished Profes Susan Scott, Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Dr Karl Wette
Atomic and Molecular Physics


Coherent control of quantum-mechanical systems


Attosecond time-resolved atomic reactions


Mass-entangled ultracold helium atoms


Atomic magnetometer for exploring physics beyond the standard model


Positron applications in medical physics
A/Prof. James Sullivan, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek


Benchmark positron scattering experiments
A/Prof. James Sullivan, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek


Measuring and modelling free-ion hyperfine fields
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Dr Brendan McCormick


Atomic ionization in super-strong laser fields


Optical quantum memory


Interactions between antimatter and ultracold atoms
Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek
Biophysics


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


Positron applications in medical physics
A/Prof. James Sullivan, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek


Specific ion effects


Femtosecond laser for ultra-precise cavity drilling in modern dentistry
Clean Energy
Improving extraction of Critical MineralsÂ
Professor Mark Knackstedt, Dr Nicolas Francois, Prof Adrian Sheppard


Migration of carbon dioxide injected in aquifers: convection, diffusion and dissolution
Engineering in Physics


Nuclear structure studies with particle transfer reactions
Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi


Nuclear lifetimes - developing new apparatus and methods
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Professor Gregory Lane, Mr Ben Coombes


Directional dark matter measurements with CYGNUS
Dr Lindsey Bignell, Dr Peter McNamara , Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, Professor Gregory Lane


Magnetic nozzles and plasma generated by a remote source


Plasma surface interactions under extreme conditions


Engineering Inter-spacecraft laser links


Vibration control for optical interferometry
Improving extraction of Critical MineralsÂ
Professor Mark Knackstedt, Dr Nicolas Francois, Prof Adrian Sheppard


Particle simulation of dual frequency processing plasmas
Active orbital control systems for nano-sats orbiting the Moon


Miniature absolute gravimeter for long-term gravity surveys
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, Professor John Close, Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Giovanni Guccione


Coherently combined laser systems for breakthrough starshot and beyond
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Michael Ireland


System calculations for hunter killer satellites


Optimising a neutron star extreme matter observatory
Dr Bram Slagmolen, Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Distinguished Prof David McClelland
Determining the orbital characteristics of a constellation of nano-sats orbiting the Moon
In space, no-one can hear you scream. Is this true?


Tracking noisy lasers using digitally enhanced fibre interferometers
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , A/Prof Malcolm Gray, Dr Paul Sibley


Plasma thrusters for spacecraft


Computer simulation of expanding plasmas
Fibre optic sensor arrays for vibrometry and acoustic sensing
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Malcolm Gray


Calibration of gravitational wave detectors
Dr Lilli (Ling) Sun, Dr Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Profes Susan Scott


Wood-based mechanical metamaterials
Dr Nicolas Francois, Dr Mohammad Saadatfar, Professor Mark Knackstedt


Understanding energy dissipation in colliding quantum many-body systems
Dr Kaitlin Cook, Dr Ian Carter, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Professor David Hinde


Ultra-fast lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states
Professor Gregory Lane, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi


Exploring physics with neural networks
Dr Aaron Tranter, Professor Ben Buchler, Professor Ping Koy Lam


Optical sensors for inertial navigation
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Malcolm Gray, Mr Justin Wong
Developing ultra-high resolution optical meta-surface sensors
Environmental Physics


Nanobubbles
Radioactivity in our environment


High pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems


Surface forces and the behaviour of colloidal systems


Migration of carbon dioxide injected in aquifers: convection, diffusion and dissolution
Quantum gravimtery for ground water mapping and subsurface planetary structure mapping
Fusion and Plasma Confinement


Nano-bubble formation in fusion relevant materials
The effect of He irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of W/ W alloys


Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions
Materials Science and Engineering


Nano-bubble formation in fusion relevant materials
The effect of He irradiation on the microstructure and mechanical properties of W/ W alloys


Using materials physics for ultra-low contact resistance next generation semiconductor devices


Creating new materials using pressure and diamond anvil cells


Ultrafast laser cleaning - The light touch
X-ray scatter in 3D microscopes


Light control with tunable metasurfaces


Solid state synapses and neurons - memristive devices for neuromorphic computing
Deblur by defocus in a 3D X-ray microscope


Optical nonlinearities in 2D crystals


Nanowire photodetectors for photonic and quantum systems


High-bandwidth stabilisation of a 2µm-band laser
Dr Johannes Eichholz, Dr Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland


Can we make a new phase of carbon?


Diagnosing plasma-surface interactions under fusion-relevant conditions


Shape engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for novel device applications


Ultrashort laser processing for advanced applications


Controlling the properties of 2D materials by defect engineering


Colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions


Developing wearable sensors for personalized health care technologies and solutions
Dr Buddini Karawdeniya, Prof Dragomir Neshev, Prof Patrick Kluth, Professor Lan Fu


Exciton polaritons in 2D atomically thin materials


Functional nanopore membranes


Efficient optical interconnect for quantum computers


Making diamond from disordered forms of carbon


Nanofluidic diodes: from biosensors to water treatment


Quantum emitters in 2D materials
Exploring novel X-ray scanning trajectories
Nanoscience and Nanotechnology


Using materials physics for ultra-low contact resistance next generation semiconductor devices


Quantum-well nanowire light emitting devices
Professor Lan Fu, Dr Ziyuan Li, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish


Nanobubbles


Nanoscale light sources with extreme parameters: high harmonics in subwavelength resonators


Solid state synapses and neurons - memristive devices for neuromorphic computing


Micro-ring lasers for integrated silicon photonics


Nanowire infrared avalanche photodetectors towards single photon detection
Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li, Professor Chennupati Jagadish


Nanowire lasers for applications in nanophotonics


Shape engineering of semiconductor nanostructures for novel device applications


Controlling the properties of 2D materials by defect engineering


Simulation of x-ray scattering from nano-objects


Specific ion effects


Colloidal systems in highly concentrated salt solutions


Developing wearable sensors for personalized health care technologies and solutions
Dr Buddini Karawdeniya, Prof Dragomir Neshev, Prof Patrick Kluth, Professor Lan Fu


Optical metamaterials: from science fiction to transformative optical technologies


Surface forces and the behaviour of colloidal systems


Functional nanopore membranes


Nanoscale optical isolators: disruptive nanotechnology to control light


Nanofluidic diodes: from biosensors to water treatment


Engineering optical chirality with nanotechnology


Metaphotonics and Mie-tronics with resonant dielectric structures
Photonics, Lasers and Nonlinear Optics


Machine learning for optics and controls


Synthetic multi-dimensional photonics


Quantum-well nanowire light emitting devices
Professor Lan Fu, Dr Ziyuan Li, Professor Hoe Tan, Professor Chennupati Jagadish


Ultrafast laser cleaning - The light touch


Low-noise offset-phase locking and heterodyne interferometry with 2µm-band lasers
Dr Johannes Eichholz, Dr Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland


Nanoscale light sources with extreme parameters: high harmonics in subwavelength resonators


Light control with tunable metasurfaces


Metasurface polarization optics and quantum photonics


Micro-ring lasers for integrated silicon photonics


Engineering Inter-spacecraft laser links


Quantum photonics with nanostructured metasurfaces


Integrated quantum photonics
Prof Andrey Sukhorukov, Dr Jinyong Ma, Dr Jihua Zhang, Prof Dragomir Neshev


Optical nonlinearities in 2D crystals


Satellite based geodesy


Nanowire infrared avalanche photodetectors towards single photon detection
Professor Lan Fu, Dr Zhe (Rex) Li, Professor Chennupati Jagadish


Nanowire lasers for applications in nanophotonics


Nanowire photodetectors for photonic and quantum systems


Coherently combined laser systems for breakthrough starshot and beyond
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Michael Ireland


High-bandwidth stabilisation of a 2µm-band laser
Dr Johannes Eichholz, Dr Bram Slagmolen, Distinguished Prof David McClelland


Laser levitation of a macroscopic mirror


Non-equilibrium quantum condensation of microcavity exciton polaritons


Ultrashort laser processing for advanced applications


Nonlinear topological photonics


Tracking noisy lasers using digitally enhanced fibre interferometers
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , A/Prof Malcolm Gray, Dr Paul Sibley


Synthesising non-Hermitian gauge fields for microcavity exciton polaritons


Quantum squeezed states for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors
Distinguished Prof David McClelland, Professor Daniel Shaddock, Dr Bram Slagmolen


Exciton polaritons in 2D atomically thin materials


Optical metamaterials: from science fiction to transformative optical technologies
Fibre optic sensor arrays for vibrometry and acoustic sensing
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Malcolm Gray


Femtosecond laser for ultra-precise cavity drilling in modern dentistry


Optical nanoantennas


Nanoscale optical isolators: disruptive nanotechnology to control light


Engineering optical chirality with nanotechnology


Metaphotonics and Mie-tronics with resonant dielectric structures


Optical sensors for inertial navigation
Dr Chathura Bandutunga , Dr Paul Sibley, A/Prof Malcolm Gray, Mr Justin Wong
Developing ultra-high resolution optical meta-surface sensors
Physics Education


Virtual reality for physics education
Physics of Fluids


Plasma-liquid interactions


Understanding drought-resistance in Australian plants with 3D X-ray microscopy
Physics of the Nucleus


Nuclear structure studies with particle transfer reactions
Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Gregory Lane, Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi


Exotic nuclear structure towards the neutron dripline


Paving the way to study the chronology of the early solar system
Dr Stefan Pavetich, Dr Michaela Froehlich , A/Prof Stephen Tims, Mr Dominik Koll


Nuclear vibrations in near-spherical and deformed nuclei
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr AJ Mitchell, Mr Ben Coombes


Nuclear lifetimes - developing new apparatus and methods
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Professor Gregory Lane, Mr Ben Coombes


Time dependence of nuclear fusion


Nuclei that fall apart: the role of sub-zeptosecond processes in reactions of weakly-bound nuclei
Dr Kaitlin Cook, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Professor David Hinde


Directional dark matter measurements with CYGNUS
Dr Lindsey Bignell, Dr Peter McNamara , Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, Professor Gregory Lane


Radioimpurities in particle detectors for dark matter studies
Dr Michaela Froehlich , Dr Zuzana Slavkovska, A/Prof Stephen Tims, Professor Gregory Lane


Nuclear batteries: Energy-storage applications of nuclear isomers


Nuclear magnetism - magnetic moment measurements
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick


Measuring and modelling free-ion hyperfine fields
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Dr Brendan McCormick


Understanding energy dissipation in colliding quantum many-body systems
Dr Kaitlin Cook, Dr Ian Carter, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta, Professor David Hinde


Quantum drivers to nuclear fission


Ultra-fast lifetime measurements of nuclear excited states
Professor Gregory Lane, Dr AJ Mitchell, Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi


Towards a global understanding of nuclear fission
Dr Kaitlin Cook, Professor David Hinde, Professor Mahananda Dasgupta
Plasma Applications and Technology


Magnetic nozzles and plasma generated by a remote source


Plasma surface interactions under extreme conditions


Particle simulation of dual frequency processing plasmas


Plasma-liquid interactions


System calculations for hunter killer satellites


Plasma thrusters for spacecraft


High pressure non-equilibrium plasma discharges in chemically reactive systems


Computer simulation of expanding plasmas
Quantum Science and Technology


Dual torsion pendulum for quantum noise limited sensing


Synthetic multi-dimensional photonics


Metasurface polarization optics and quantum photonics


Quantum photonics with nanostructured metasurfaces


Mass-entangled ultracold helium atoms


Vibration control for optical interferometry


Integrated quantum photonics
Prof Andrey Sukhorukov, Dr Jinyong Ma, Dr Jihua Zhang, Prof Dragomir Neshev


Beam matching using machine learning


Satellite based geodesy


Miniature absolute gravimeter for long-term gravity surveys
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, Professor John Close, Prof Patrick Kluth, Dr Giovanni Guccione


Laser levitation of a macroscopic mirror


Non-equilibrium quantum condensation of microcavity exciton polaritons


Atomic magnetometer for exploring physics beyond the standard model


Synthesising non-Hermitian gauge fields for microcavity exciton polaritons


Quantum squeezed states for interferometric gravitational-wave detectors
Distinguished Prof David McClelland, Professor Daniel Shaddock, Dr Bram Slagmolen


Quantum super resolution


Efficient optical interconnect for quantum computers


Quantum multi-parameter estimation


Exploring physics with neural networks
Dr Aaron Tranter, Professor Ben Buchler, Professor Ping Koy Lam


Experimental quantum simulation with ultracold metastable Helium atoms in an optical lattice
Quantum gravimtery for ground water mapping and subsurface planetary structure mapping


Optical quantum memory


Quantum emitters in 2D materials


Interactions between antimatter and ultracold atoms
Dr Sean Hodgman, Professor Stephen Buckman, Dr Joshua Machacek
Theoretical Physics
Combinatorics and integrable systems


Time dependence of nuclear fusion


Coherent control of quantum-mechanical systems


Attosecond time-resolved atomic reactions


Introduction to quantum integrable systems


Variational approach to many-body problems


Nuclear magnetism - magnetic moment measurements
Professor Andrew Stuchbery, Emeritus Professor Tibor Kibedi, Professor Gregory Lane, Dr Brendan McCormick


Quantum drivers to nuclear fission


Optical nanoantennas


Quantum multi-parameter estimation


Stochastic dynamics of interacting systems and integrability


Atomic ionization in super-strong laser fields
Topological and Structural Science


Nonlinear topological photonics


Simulation of x-ray scattering from nano-objects


Wood-based mechanical metamaterials
Dr Nicolas Francois, Dr Mohammad Saadatfar, Professor Mark Knackstedt
Updated: 30 January 2023/ Responsible Officer: Director, RSPhys/ Page Contact: Physics Webmaster