The LIDAR (Light Detection and Ranging Instrument) beam probes the night skies above Davis during auroral activity. The Atmospheric Group has an involvement in using this instrument for research.

Physics Research Groups

Members of the School participate in an active and internationally recognised research program in Physics. Research areas include:

• Archaeometry
• Atmospheric Physics
• Atomic and Molecular Physics
• Geophysics
• High Energy Astrophysics
• Medical Physics
• Optics and Photonics
• Theoretical Physics
• Other research interest areas include: Mathematical Physics, Particle & Nuclear Theory

We also host these 3 ARC Research Groups:

• The Centre of Expertise in Photonics (CoEP)
• The Special Research Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter (CSSM)
• University of Adelaide Node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Antimatter-Matter Studies (CAMS)

Archaeometry

For further information contact Professor John Prescott.

Atmospheric Physics

The Atmospheric Physics group is interested in all aspects of the physics of the atmosphere (and ionosphere) from the ground up to altitudes near 100 km. It develops and exploits new radar, passive and active optical techniques and GPS and other satellite techniques for remote sensing of the atmosphere.  Examples of research projects include:

• Meteoroid fragmentation with radio holography
• GPS measurements for ground and space
• Radar investigation of the turbulence and radio-wave scatters in the lower atmosphere
• Lidar and passive optical studies of the atmosphere.
• Effects of lightning on the atmosphere and ionosphere.
• Radar imaging and radar interferometry of the atmosphere.

For further information contact Professor Iain Reid, Professor Robert Vincent.

Atomic and Molecular Physics

The Atomic and Molecular Physics group undertakes experimental studies of ionization using electrons and positrons. The electron impact ionization studies are performed using apparatus located at the University of Adelaide, while the positron impact ionization experiments are performed using the slow positron beam located at the Australian National University. The group’s research underpins the activities of the University of Adelaide Node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Antimatter-Matter Studies. Example of reserach projects include:

• Studies using positrons and electrons to explore the impact ionization process on benchmark atomic and molecular targets like helium, argon, neon, molecular hydrogen and molecular nitrogen;
• A high precision investigation of the near-threshold region single and double ionization by positrons of helium;
• Electron impact ionization of molecules of technological relevance such as C60;
• Studies of electron and positron ionization of biomolecules, and
• Development of the world’s first positron reaction microscope.

For further information contact Professor Birgit Lohmann.

Geophysics

The group conducts theoretical and experimental studies using elastic and electromagnetic waves to image the Earth’s interior on a variety of scales. The primary emphasis is on sensor technology, digital signal processing, numerical modelling and inverse theory. Examples of research projects include:

• Laboratory investigations of electrical resistance tomography in anisotropic media
• Reflection of seismic waves from attenuating and poro-elastic ocean bottom sediments
• Full waveform inversion of cross hole radar data for conductivity and permittivity distributions
• Seismic diffraction modeling of ore bodies

For further information contact Professor Stewart Greenhalgh.

High Energy Astrophysics

The High Energy Astrophysics group has broad interests in high energy astrophysics at energies from sub-TeV to the highest particle energies known. They are members of large international collaborations, including Pierre Auger, H.E.S.S. and LUNASKA.  Examples of research projects include:

• Auger Project: Cosmic ray energy and mass composition.
• Cosmic ray production and inter-galactic propagation.
• Study of the solar cycle using the Buckland Park muon array.
• TeV gamma-ray astronomy (HESS) and detector development.
• Optical monitoring of variable and flaring astronomical sources.
• LUNASKA Project: Observation of high energy neutrinos by detection of lunar Cherenkov radio waves.
• Extreme astrophysics at TeV gamma ray energies.
• Radio to X-ray observations of high energy sources.

For further information contact: Professor Roger Clay, Associate Professor Bruce Dawson, Associate Professor Ray Protheroe, or Dr Gavin Rowell.

Medical Physics

This Medical Physics program operates in collaboration with Medical Physicists in Adelaide hospitals.  The main areas of research are modelling of the growth and destruction of tumours, verification of dose delivered in radiotherapy and image reconstruction techniques.  Examples of research projects include:

• Dose distribution studies in prostate brachytherapy.
• Proton energy deposition in tissue.
• Air-cavity measurements for intensity modulated radiotherapy.
• Mone Carlo simulation of air cavity effects on X-ray dose deposition.
• Optimization of SPECT reconstruction.

For further information contact Dr Judith Pollard or Associate Professor Eva Bezak.

Optics and Photonics

Research by the Optics and Photonics group encompasses all aspects of photonics: the science, development and application of coherent light, and classical optics. It includes collaborations with exciting international projects to develop gravitational astronomy (LIGO, VIRGO and TAMA), for next-generation optical telescopes (Gemini) and remote sensing (BoM, WA DoE). The Centre of Expertise in Photonics also has world-leading facilities for the development and fabrication of new soft-glass optical fibres, lasers and sensors. Examples of research projects include:

• Surface characterisation, wavefront sensing and adaptive optics.
• High power solid-state lasers.
• Bio-optics: exploiting design features of insect eyes.
• Atmospheric water vapour spectroscopy.
• Fibre lasers in the infra-red.
• Extreme non-linear effects in optical fibres.
• Large mode area mid-infrared fibres
• Fibre-optic detection of viruses and water quality.
• Soft glass fibre lasers.
• Photon-electron interactions within optical fibres.

For further informtion contact: Associate Professor Murray Hamilton, Professor Tanya Monro, Professor Jesper Munch, Associate Professor Peter Veitch.

Click here to view research groups web page:  Optics and Photonics; and Centre of Expertise in Photonics (CoEP).

The Institute for Photonics & Advanced Sensing (IPAS) brings together physicists, chemists and biologists to pursue a new transdisciplinary approach to science. IPAS are developing novel photonic, sensing and measurement technologies that will change the way science is done within traditional discipline areas. This will stimulate the creation of new industries and inspire a new generation of scientists to be engaged in solving real-world problems. IPAS research targets applications in four key market areas:

• Defence and national security
• Environmental monitoring
• Preventative health
• Food and wine

For more information about IPAS, please visit their website.

Theoretical Physics

This group is internationally renowned for their research exploring the fundamental quantum field theories of the Standard Model of the Universe.  As home of the ARC Special Research Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter (CSSM), significant advances have been made in unveiling the nature of Quantum Chromodynamics (QCD), the theory describing the interactions between quarks and gluons as they compose particles such as the proton. The CSSM enjoys formal agreements of collaboration with 22 institutions internationally. Supporting nuclear and particle physics facilities around the world, their calculations aim to reveal the most fundamental aspects of Nature and explore the extreme conditions of neutron stars, supernovaexplosions and the early universe. Examples of research projects include:

• Lattice QCD, numerical simulations on parallel supercomputers.
• Quark confinement, symmetry breaking and mass generation
• The QCD Lava Lamp, visualizations of lattice-QCD data sets
• Renormalization, bringing physical meaning to quantum field theory
• Neutrinos: flavour oscillations and mass
• Chiral effective field theory
• Quantum computation, entanglement and information processing
• Parity-time-reversal symmetric non-Hermitian Hamiltonians
• Axion phenomenology and photon production in intense fields
• Finite-dimensional quantum affine algebras and their applications.
• Topological defects of monopoles and vortices in the Standard Model.

For further information contact:  Dr Rod Crewther, Professor Derek Leinweber, Associate Professor Max Lohe, Dr Lorenz von Smekal, Professor Tony Williams.

Click here to view research groups web page: The Special Research Centre for the Subatomic Structure of Matter CSSM.