Current projects
Astrophysics
Cultural Astronomy & Dark Sky Studies
Supervisor: Duane Hamacher
Keywords: Astrophysics
The study of astronomy in culture is multidisciplinary, drawing from the natural sciences, social sciences, and humanities to examine the links between humans and the celestial realm with regard to culture, society, history, and heritage. Students are invited to work with A/Prof Duane Hamacher on a project examining aspects of cultural astronomy from a quantitative and/or qualitative approach.
Major projects focus on mapping the stars and constellations of various Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander cultures, examining celestial weather indicators, designing dark sky projects to safeguard astronomical heritage, examining planetary motions described in oral tradition, developing digital programs for Stellarium and the planetarium setting, and other related projects in Indigenous astronomy, archaeoastronomy, astronomical heritage, historical astronomy, the history of meteoritics, dark sky studies, and social studies of astronomy and space. Students from non-physics backgrounds are welcome to apply, provided their project involves their area of study. A working knowledge of astronomy is preferred, but not essential.
The SpIRIT nanosatellite - Australia's first space telescope
Supervisor: Michele Trenti
Keyword: Astrophysics
The SpIRIT (Space Industry – Responsive – Intelligent – Thermal) nanosatellite mission is the first project funded for launch in orbit by the Australian Space Agency, and the shoe-box sized satellite will carry a sophisticated gamma and x-ray instrument for high energy astrophysics. SpIRIT is expected to be operational by 2022, and it will contribute to detection of Gamma Ray Bursts and electromagnetic counterparts of gravitational-wave mergers, operating in conjunction with a European constellation of satellites (the HERMES scientific and technological pathfinders).
This internship will give the opportunity to join the SpIRIT mission team, led out of the School of Physics at UoM, and to gain direct experience on design and early development of a space mission. Specific projects possible for interns range from modeling and optimisation of science operations of the satellite to on-board software development and hands-on hardware experience in the newly established Melbourne Space Laboratory, where part of SpIRIT components are being designed and tested.
Measuring the geometry of the Universe with the Planck satellite
Supervisor: Christian Reichardt
Keyword: Astrophysics
The sound horizon in the photon-baryon plasma of the early Universe can be measured from the position of the acoustic peaks in the cosmic microwave background power spectrum. The angular size of the sound horizon tells us about the geometry of the Universe. In this project, you will measure the power spectrum of the Planck satellite maps, and look at the cosmological implications of that power spectrum measurement.
Gravitational Microlensing
Supervisor: Rachel Webster
Keywords: Astrophysics
Stars at cosmological distances can magnify very small sources by large factors. The Vera Rubin Observatory will undertake a southern sky photometric monitoring program with a cadence of a few days over a decade starting in 2023. With these observations it may be possible to observe microlensing events due to stars, providing new constraints on the sizes of emission regions in quasars and other very small sources as well as determining the extent of dark matter in the lensing galaxies. This project will use machine learning techniques to investigate the possibility of measuring the physical parameters in the lenses responsible for the microlensing events. It will require some computational expertise in python.
Using machine learning to reconstruct telescope pointing
Supervisor: Christian Reichardt
Keywords: Astrophysics
Figuring out where the telescope is pointed is a universal problem in astronomy, which has classically been solved by building a physical model for the telescope and how its shape deforms as a function of temperature, azimuthal direction, etc. Machine learning offers a potentially faster and easier short-cut. We have a dataset of the recorded positions, temperatures, etc, and also measurements of the actual pointing from known sources on the sky. This project will explore machine learning techniques and compare their performance (as quantified by the residual pointing errors) against an existing physically
motivated pointing model for the SPTpol experiment.
Condensed Matter Physics
Diamond superconducting resonators
Supervisor: Steven Prawer
Keywords: Condensed Matter Physics
Diamond is a wide band-gap semiconductor with a range of remarkable mechanical, electronic, and optical properties. When doped heavily with boron, diamond exhibits metallic properties, and becomes superconducting at deep cryogenic temperatures (~2-8 K), with some theory to suggest this could be extended as high as room temperature. While nanocrystalline and polycrystalline superconducting diamond have been studied extensively, single-crystal material remains comparatively unexplored, and shows great potential for a raft of future applications including superconducting quantum interference devices (SQUIDs), or for low-noise microwave resonators which find application in quantum computing.
Recent progress in our group has allowed the growth of high-quality single-crystal superconducting diamond at a local facility, the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication. This project will explore the first steps towards fabricating and characterising microwave resonators in this material. The student will be involved with the design and computer simulation of coplanar waveguide type resonators with frequency on the order of 10 GHz. Using our laser micromachining tool, we will selectively mill away superconducting material to precisely define the geometry of a meandering waveguide and its input and output coupling gaps. After further cleanroom processing of the sample, the student will use our dilution refrigerator to cool the resonator to temperatures as low as 20 mK, and characterise its properties such as resonant frequency, coupling, and Q-factor using a vector network analyser. The dilution refrigerator is equipped with a 9 Tesla superconducting vector magnet, which may allow an appropriately designed resonator to be used for electron spin resonance measurements of nitrogen-vacancy (NV) centre defects in the diamond substrate.
Quantum Computing
Simulating spin chains on a quantum computer
Supervisor: Stephan Rachel
Keywords: Condensed Matter Physics, Quantum Computing
Early-stage Noisy Intermediate Scale Quantum Computer (NISQ) devices such as IBM’s quantum computers have become available to researchers in recent years and are steadily improving. Beyond applications in the field of quantum information, they also present an exciting new tool to physicists. In theory, quantum systems are best simulated on quantum computers. However, the nosiness of currently available machines makes it challenging to identify those systems that can be implemented as well as observables that provide us insight into interesting physics. In this project, you will learn the basics of digital quantum computation and simulate the physics of spin chains on one of IBM’s quantum
computers.
Optics
Characterisation of transition metal K alpha x-ray emission profiles: an approach based on ab initio relativistic atomic theory
Supervisor: Christopher Chantler
Keywords: Optics, Condensed Matter Physics
To investigate the K alpha characteristic radiation of transition metals using the most up to date relativistic atomic theory. The photoemission lines of transition metals provide a benchmark for theoretical and experimental studies in the x-ray regime in laboratories worldwide. Shake processes, caused by single and double spectator vacancies from 3d, 3p, 3s and 4s sub-shells, will be explored.
The student will be trained to use the GRASP2K software package in order to perform multi-configuration Dirac–Hartree–Fock (MCDHF) calculations to obtain energies and relative intensities of 3d, 3d^2 , 3p, 3s and 4s satellites. Our theoretical calculations of shake-off probabilities will be tested for their internal
consistency with the best available experimental data including from our own labs. A consistent fit would support the validity of relativistic atomic theory and would set a new standard in current techniques of analysis.
Experimental measurement of molybdenum K alpha and K beta characteristic x-ray emission profiles
Supervisor: Christopher Chantler
Keywords: Optics, Condensed Matter Physics
To experimentally measure the K alpha and K beta characteristic radiation of molybdenum using the School XROSS rotating anode. Molybdenum provides the second-most popular X-ray standard for characteristic radiation and source radiation in the world. The photoemission lines provide a benchmark for theoretical and experimental studies in the x-ray regime in laboratories worldwide.
The student will be trained to use our high-frequency rotating anode generator (the first in the world for physics experiments) to obtain spectra of the transitions, and may also use the Fluorescence spectrometer subject to time and government restrictions. A consistent spectrum would allow investigation of the validity of the relativistic atomic theory and would set a new standard in calibration and analysis.
Ghost imaging with meta-optics
Supervisor: Ann Roberts & Ken Crozier
Keywords: Optics
It is possible to obtain images of objects using a static, single-pixel by utilising quantum or classical correlations in optical fields. This approach, sometimes called ‘ghost imaging’, can be performed without a pixelated sensor enabling imaging at wavelengths or in environments where traditional focal-plane array cameras are either expensive or unavailable. This project will explore the integration of nanophotonic flat optical components - meta-optics – into a single-pixel imaging system to visualise polarisation variations in an optical field. It will involve a combination of theory, computational
simulation and experiment.
Particle Physics
Advanced machine learning for experimental particle physics research
Supervisor: Martin Sevior
Keywords: Particle Physics
Analysis of data from particle physics experiments already makes extensive use of machine learning techniques. These are particularly useful in reducing backgrounds to processes of interest. Modern Deep Learning technologies have the potential to make significant improvements to these techniques. This project is to examine the utility of one employing raw data and Fast Boosted Decision Tree algorithms to improve the signal to background discrimination in particle physics data.
Analysis of Open Data from ATLAS
Supervisor: Martin Sevior
Keywords: Particle Physics
ATLAS have made available data from the 13 TeV, 2016 experimental running period. The project is re-discover the Higgs Boson in the data using the python root data analysis framework.
High-performance silicon tracking detector construction and characterisation measurement
Supervisor: Geoffrey Taylor
Keywords: Particle Physics
The EPP group is leading the Australian contribution to the major upgrade to the ATLAS experiment, being undertaken in parallel to the upgrade of CERN's Large Hadron Collider (LHC) for the next phase, the High Luminosity LHC (HL-LHC). The Scholarship project will be carried out in the EPP detector laboratory, under the supervision of Professor Geoffrey Taylor, with support from PhD and MSc students.
The project will provide experience in high-precision assembly and measurement techniques, Si current-voltage characteristization, and detector signal and noise measurements. Development of measurement and recording software will also be carried out. The project will take place January-February before the start of 2021 academic year.
Characterisation of LAB scintillator for the SABRE Dark Matter Experiment
Supervisor: Phillip Urquijo
Keywords: Particle Physics
In this project, you will characterise the optical absorption and scintillation properties of Linear Alkyl-Benzene (LAB) liquid scintillator using high sensitivity Photo-Multiplier Tubes (PMTs). The SABRE experiment will use twelve tonnes of LAB scintillator in the active veto system. The veto system instrumented with an array of large PMTs sensitive to single-photon emission induced by background processes in the LAB.
This project will involve measuring the absorption spectra and scintillation emission of the scintillator mixtures (LAB with additional wavelength shifting compounds called fluorophores) using the same PMTs that will be used in the veto system. The scintillation light in the SABRE active veto may travel in excess of 2 m through the LAB to reach a PMT. The absorption of light in the LAB scintillator is potentially a
significant effect on the light collection efficiency and therefore the efficacy of the system for background rejection. It must be carefully measured. The measured absorption spectrum can then be used in detailed optical simulations of the SABRE experiment to correct for this effect. We will also explore scintillation properties for varying concentrations of fluorophores.
You will be involved in data-taking using modern high-speed data acquisition systems and electronics (pico-ammeter), as well as the analysis process. There is also the opportunity to expand this project into other PMT and scintillator related studies.
Dark Matter direct detection: Data interpretation at SABRE
Supervisor: Elisabetta Barberio
Keywords: Particle physics
The DAMA/LIBRA experiment in Italy has seen a persistent dark matter particle signal with a significance well beyond a possible statistical fluctuation. The SABRE South experiment in Australia is poised to confirm or refuse this signal.
To confirm or refuse the DAMA/LIBRA signal the SABRE experiment needs have under control all possible sources of background (noise) that can mimic the dark matter signal. In particular, we need to study the background related to the location of the SABRE experiment, at 1 km underground in the Stawell Gold Mine in Victoria. This project will involve the modelling of background processes that can mimic the dark matter signal to prepare the SABRE experiment data analysis. Basic knowledge of python will be useful for this project.