ANNUAL REPORT - Sydney

FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENT

ANNUAL REPORT 2014

SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

1 Welcome2 Teaching Report4 2013 School of Physics Prizes and Scholarships6 2014 School of Physics Prizes and Scholarships8 Julius Sumner Miller Fellow Dr Karl S Kruszelnicki10 Talented Student Program13 Research Themes: Reports from Research Groups within the School of Physics34 History of the AIN Building36 Kickstart and Outreach37 In 2015, the ISS is Going to be BIG! 38 Staff List

CONTENTS

PRODUCTION OF ANNUAL REPORT:Tim Bedding Shiva Ford Carla Avolio Eve Teran

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Welcome to the School of Physics 2014 Annual Report. 2014 was a year of significant changes in the School. Apart from a number of staff arrivals and departures, the most noticeable transformation was emergence of a new building behind the Physics building. The Sydney Nanoscience Hub, as the building is now officially named, was constructed on the previous site of the Physics Annexe. A history of the building’s development can be found on page 34. It includes world-class laboratories, teaching spaces and office accommodation. The University has appointed a leadership team for the Australian Institute for Nanoscale Science and Technology (AINST), including our own Professor Zdenka Kuncic as Director, Community and Research. The continued commitment by the University to the nanoscience institute and to the new building is excellent news for the School and we look forward to capitalising on these opportunities.

Teaching activities in the School continued to flourish, with strong student enrolment numbers, and ever-increasing participation in research-enhanced learning and teaching. Associate Professor John O’Byrne, Associate Head of School (Teaching), has provided a full teaching report on page 2.

We were very successful with research funding grants in 2014, including: two prestigious ARC Laureate Fellowships, awarded to Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn and Professor Peter Robinson; three ARC Future Fellowships to Dr Dennis Stello, Dr Krzysztof Bolejko, and Dr Jan Hamann; two ARC Discovery Early Career Researcher Awards to Dr David Marpaung and Dr Maritza Lara-Lopez; and a University of Sydney Postdoctoral Fellowship to Dr Nicolas Scott.

The School continued to host a number of ARC and NHMRC Centres of Excellence and Cooperative Research Centres. These include the Centre for All-Sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO); the Centre for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS); the Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS); and Sydney nodes of the Centre for Particle Physics at the Terascale (CoEPP); the Centre for Quantum Computer and Communications Technology (CQC2T); the Centre for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQuS); and the Centre of Excellence for Integrative Brain Function (CIBF).

Further information on the School’s research developments and successes are described in the Research Themes section starting on page 13.

A Physics Equity and Access Committee (PEAC) was established, with broad representation from across the School, including students and staff. The goals of PEAC are to devise policies and actions for the School to promote equity across many areas, ensuring a supportive work environment and actively remove conscious and unconscious diversity biases. It was very pleasing for the School to be awarded a Bronze Pleiades Award, bestowed by the Women in Astronomy Chapter of the Astronomical Society of Australia. It recognises Australian organisations in astronomy that take active steps to advance the careers of women through focused programs and strive for sustained improvement in providing opportunities for women to achieve positions of seniority, influence and recognition.

The School received two major philanthropic gifts during 2014. Dick and Penny Hunstead donated $1.4 million to establish the Dick Hunstead Fund for Astrophysics. The fund will be used to support research activities in the Sydney Institute for Astronomy. Anne and Hugh Harley donated $500,000 to the Quantum Control Laboratory, led by Associate Professor Michael Biercuk. These funds will accelerate Professor Biercuk’s laboratory efforts to bring about a new technological future enabled by the laws of quantum physics.

2014 marked the 60th year anniversary of the University of Sydney Physics Foundation. The occasion was celebrated in March at an elegant reception held at Government House, hosted by Her Excellency Marie Bashir AC CVO, the previous Governor of NSW. The Physics Foundation continues to foster and support the International Science School (ISS), which will next be held in winter 2015. Read all about how BIG ISS2015 is going to be on page 37.

Tim Bedding Head, School of Physics

WELCOME

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In March 2014 over a thousand new students entered the Physics building to study physics as part of their first year of university. For some, it wasn’t their first time in the School, since they were part of the year 11 and 12 groups of HSC students who come to the School as part of the Kickstart program (see page 36). That experience is one reason to choose science, and specifically physics, at the University of Sydney.

Meanwhile, almost 150 students continued into Intermediate (2nd year) physics units in 2014. Retention of these students from the large and diverse 1st year classes into 2nd year is key to the ongoing health of the School, since the best of them become the Honours and PhD students of the future. Many of the others may not get quite that far, but they still continue onto a major in physics, meaning they spend at least half their time in 3rd year doing physics units of their choice.

The key to retaining students is offering excellent units of study, with a variety of learning opportunities (lectures, tutorials, experimental and computational labs) delivered by active researchers who are good teachers and role models. Many of these staff are the continuing ‘teaching and research’ staff of the School. However, the School also uses its contract research staff to support the teaching program, including many high-profile winners of prestigious research fellowships.

The units need to be well-organised as well as well-taught. The organisation of teaching in Physics is primarily in the hands of the academic teaching year and laboratory coordinators, ably assisted by the professional staff in the Physics Student Office.

Another aspect of retaining students is offering interesting learning experiences. One highlight for many students is the research projects that form part of the experimental lab program. In junior physics we offer all students a mini-research experience in a lab project in the second half of semester 2. Students enjoy designing, conducting and reporting on self-guided projects such as testing the effectiveness of sun screens

TEACHING REPORT Asscociate Professor John O’Byrne

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STUDENT NUMBERSStudent numbers for 2014 were approximately as follows:

UNIT SEMESTER 1 SEMESTER 2

JUNIOR PHYSICS

Mainstream units 1069 514

COSC Junior units - 59

EDUH 1017 Sports Mechanics - 48

MRTY 1031 Medical Radiation Physics 101 -

MTRY 1036 Health Physics and Radiation Biology - 101

PHYS 1500 Astronomy - 211

INTERMEDIATE PHYSICS

Mainstream units 146 121

PHYS 2213 Physics 2EE - 87

SENIOR PHYSICS

Core units only 94 94

HONOURS 23

POSTGRADUATE COURSEWORK 21

POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH 148

or the lift force of an aerofoil. For students who don’t continue in physics, these projects mark the completion of their physics training with an interesting and challenging task.

For senior (3rd year) students in the advanced stream, a special project can be substituted for experimental laboratory work in one semester. These projects are genuine research activities conducted with one of the School’s research groups. These are excellent experiences, giving the students a taste of larger projects in Honours and the PhD and hopefully showing them whether this is the path for them. In 2014, 38 special projects were completed.

In addition to these opportunities, summer scholarships offered to 39 students at the end of 2014 gave them an opportunity to work with research groups for 6 week around Christmas.

All these are examples of research-enhanced learning and teaching (RELT), a theme of the university’s strategic plan for learning and teaching.

Undoubtedly the most significant teaching development of 2014 was the final implementation of new assessment policies and procedures across the entire university. In physics and indeed all of science, this proved to be a difficult change in attitudes, away from processes where scaling of marks was routine, to one where adjusting marks

should be rare as much more effort is put into setting assessments to meet pre-determined standards. Both approaches have their disadvantages, but the change undoubtedly inspired considerable discussion about our assessments and how to ensure equity for the students. We will continue to improve our assessment processes in the years ahead.

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JUNIOR PHYSICS

The Levey Scholarship No. 1 for PhysicsMaggie Corrigan

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 1Durlabh Pande

Minh Huyen Diana Nguyen

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 1Qiu Shi Xia

William De Ferranti

Somasuntharam Arunasalam

Matthew Keen

Kristen Emery

Smith Prize in Experimental Physics Andrew Hyun Lee

Australian Sky & Telescope Prize for AstronomyAlex Trussell

INTERMEDIATE PHYSICS

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 2Christopher Ryba

Sam Roberts

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 2Harrison Steel

Nicholas Funai

Hakop Pashayan

Lachlan Lindoy

Ishraq Uddin

Slade Prize in Intermediate Physics PracticalNikhil Vasan

The Geoffrey Builder-AWA PrizeBenjamin Aves

Stephen Tridgell

2013 SCHOOL OF PHYSICS PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

Mrs Janice King presents The Malcolm Turki Memorial Scholarship to Eromanga Adermann.

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SENIOR PHYSICS

Deas-Thomson ScholarshipChristopher Herron

The Walter Burfitt Scholarship No. 2 for PhysicsEromanga Adermann

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 3Eromanga Adermann

Fiona Naughton

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 3Thomas Lacy

Zixin Huang

Justin Donnelly

Joanna Guse

Lawrence Trevor

School of Physics Honours ScholarshipDamian Ireland

Neil Barrie

Samuel Baran

Marcin Glowacki

Teck Seng Ho

Shafique Pineda

Wayan Sastrawan

Marie Claire Jarratt

Jie Ying Shelley Liang

Douglas Compton

Ronald Maj

Nikolas Iwanus

The W.I.B. Smith Prize

Peter Dabbs

The Malcolm Turki Memorial ScholarshipEromanga Adermann

PHYSICS HONOURSShiroki Prize for Best Honours Project in Physics

Benjamin Pope

The Australian Institute for Physics (NSW) Branch PrizeDominic Williamson

Henry Chamberlain Russell Prize in AstronomyBenjamin Pope

POSTGRADUATE PHYSICS

CISRA Postgraduate Physics PrizeAlice Mahoney

James Colless

The School of Physics Postgraduate Alumni PrizeJoel Wallman

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JUNIOR PHYSICS

The Levey Scholarship No. 1 for PhysicsJoshua Wildig

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 1Tomas Lasic Latimer

Kehuan Shi

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 1Pavle Cajic

Alex Tzu-Heng Hung

Ruihao Li

Ankur Paul

Paul Webster

Smith Prize in Experimental Physics Charlotte Ward

Australian Sky & Telescope Prize for AstronomyVictor Khou

INTERMEDIATE PHYSICS

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 2Cameron Duncan

Qiu Shi Xia

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 2Somasuntharam Arunasalam

William De Ferranti

Claire Edmunds

Minh Huyen Diana Nguyen

Philippa Spence

Slade Prize in Intermediate Physics PracticalTyrone Pollard

Qiu Shi Xia

The Geoffrey Builder-AWA PrizePhilippa Spence

2014 SCHOOL OF PHYSICS PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

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SENIOR PHYSICS

Deas-Thomson ScholarshipShyeh Tjing Cleo Loi

The Walter Burfitt Scholarship No. 2 for PhysicsLauren Mckenzie-Sell

School of Physics-Julius Sumner Miller Scholarship No. 3Nicholas Funai

Lauren Mckenzie-Sell

The University of Sydney Physics Foundation for Physics Scholarship No. 3Richard Bowden-Reid

Christopher Chubb

Hakop Pashayan

Sam Roberts

Ishraq Uddin

School of Physics Honours ScholarshipRichard Bowden-Reid

Christopher Chubb

Nicholas Funai

Dale Grant

Shyeh Tjing Cleo Loi

Lauren Mckenzie-Sell

Brandon Munn

Hakop Pashayan

Sam Roberts

Matthew Talia

Ishraq Uddin

Steven Waddy

Caly Yang

The W.I.B. Smith PrizeKatrina Zenere

The Malcolm Turki Memorial ScholarshipDale Grant

PHYSICS HONOURS

Shiroki Prize for Best Honours Project in PhysicsChristopher Herron

The Australian Institute for Physics (NSW) Branch PrizeChristopher Herron

Henry Chamberlain Russell Prize in AstronomyChristopher Herron

POSTGRADUATE PHYSICS

The School of Physics Postgraduate Alumni PrizeAlessandro Tuniz

2014 SCHOOL OF PHYSICS PRIZES AND SCHOLARSHIPS

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The position of the Julius Sumner Fellow has been continuously held by radio/TV science communicator, prolific science author (36 books so far) and all-round science guru, Dr Karl Kruszelnicki.

2014 was an even bigger year than previously - packed with even more science promotion. In his position as the JSM Fellow, Karl continued to fly the Physics, Science and University flags as he continued on his mission to encourage and recruit students into science-based courses and careers. The way that this promotion is carried out has changed enormously over the years. One factor is constant - the frequent references to the University of Sydney, and his beloved home, the School of Physics. (Mind you, the view out of the window was a grey wall for all of 2014 – but this will change in 2015.)

StaffThere was a major change, with Caroline Pegram growing her wings and flying off into the Land of TV, Web and Social Media Production. Karl is very lucky to be able to continue working with her on Special Projects (more of that below).

The extremely capable Isabelle Benton has taken over as Karl’s producer, and is settling in well.

TelevisionKarl continued with intermittent TV broadcasts on commercial TV, but added a permanent ABC TV News seven-minute segment every Sunday morning at 8.40 AM.

RadioKarl increased his national ABC Radio segments to a total of four hours every week. These regular segments provide an excellent opportunity for him to increase science awareness in the community by answering burning questions from listeners. Of course, there is always the opportunity to discuss interesting and relevant research projects carried out within the University, and to promote University events, such as the Sydney Science Forum Lecture series.

His regular weekly science talkback program on BBC Five Live program ‘Up All Night’ has continued to grow in popularity, with audience feedback increasing enormously. This program is transmitted across the UK (and the world, live, via the web) on Thursday mornings to a growing audience of around 1.5 million people.

Interweb

Dr Karl’s presence on the Internet has expanded greatly with a quartet of essential social media applications -Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Twitter Followers number around a quarter of a million. The other social media followers are fewer for the moment.

In early 2015, drkarl.com is being re-launched with a new Look and Feel – and a new Content Management System. This new system enables advertising of University and other science-related events to happen more efficiently. Dr. Karl’s ABC Webpage is still enormously popular, and is currently responsible for almost one-half of all visits to the ABC Science webpage, and about 5% of all Internet traffic to the ABC.

PodcastsKarl now has four podcasts – with more to come.

Two podcasts are available via the ABC; both are enormously popular and make regular appearances in the iTunes top ten podcast chart. In 2014, there were 785,377 podcast downloads of Great Moments in Science (a 5-minute audio science story) and 3,051,817 podcast downloads of the Triple J Science Talk Back segment. That’s over 3.8 million podcast downloads.

The Sleek Geek podcast with Adam Spencer is quite new but is growing very quickly. It has occasionally been the No. 1 Science podcast in Australia. But as always, long-term consistency is critical to overall success. The BBC podcast is also growing in popularity.

Twitter In 2009 Karl joined the Twitterati and began the process of tweeting to his followers. In the usual Dr Karl style, he began to use Twitter in a different way answering and asking questions, which is not easy to do in fewer than 140 characters. There are around a quarter-of-a-million ‘followers’, with this figure increasing by a few hundred every week. This database can be used to alert people to events, competitions etc. Surprisingly, when a “technical question” is asked, there is almost always a great answer.

JULIUS SUMNER MILLER FELLOWDR KARL S KRUSZELNICKI

Nearly two decades ago in 1995, the Science Foundation established the position of Julius Sumner Miller Fellow within the School of Physics, with the aim of raising community interest in science.

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Dr Karl with The Mythbusters during the National Science Week 2014

BooksIn 2014, Karl released book No. 35, Dr Karl’s Even Bigger Book of Science Stuff and Nonsense, into the children’s market. Interestingly, this book is very popular with Primary School Libraries as well as the students.

In November 2014, Karl’s 36th book, House of Karls, was released into the adult non-fiction market.

Sleek Geeks Eureka Schools PrizeThe University of Sydney Sleek Geeks Eureka Schools Prize, now into its ninth year, continues to grow in popularity. Students are asked to communicate a science related story or concept in a fun and interesting way through a 1–3 minute video clip.

The format of this prize has continued to strike a real chord with the students, and that is reflected in the increasing quality and volume of entries.

All the finalists spent a very special day at Sydney University with Dr Karl and Adam Spencer, ahead of the Eureka

Awards Dinner where the winners were announced. The finalist films were played during the course of the Eureka Awards Dnner, once again providing a fun item during the evening.

School VisitsThe introduction of specific dates for Dr Karl talks to big school groups has proven to be a successful way to deal with the many school requests. These talks are held for approximately 500 students at a time in the Eastern Avenue Lecture Theatre. They are in addition to the presentations that Karl makes when students visit the University for a “tour” of the Faculty of Science.

As well, Karl has continued to make many school visits outside the University. In particular he has made successful visits to regional and lower socioeconomic schools.

Overseas ActivitiesIn July 2014, Karl spoke to packed audiences at The Amazing Meeting (TAM, the annual World Skeptics Association meeting) in Las Vegas.

In October 2014, he delivered several seminars to a Science and Primary Education event at Renaissance College in Hong Kong.

SkypeA novel way of getting to schools has evolved – doing Science Q&A sessions with classrooms around the world via Skype. Karl did 36 such sessions in 2014.

The sessions with overseas schools have been very successful with high audio and video quality and robust connection.

Media/Speaker TrainingIn 2014 Karl was able to help several students and staff with “media training.” Specifically, how to talk to an audience of 20 to 2,000 people in an effective matter. The plan for 2015 is to provide much more of this type of support and training to students and staff within both Physics and the Faculty of Science.

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As part of the Talented Student Program (run by the Faculty, for students with ATAR > 99.0), TSP students in Physics replace part of their second semester lab with mini projects with researchers in the School.

In Physics, we extend this opportunity to high-achieving students who narrowly missed out on being selected into TSP but who are passionate about Physics and intend to major in it.

This year we had another bumper crop of projects; there were 46 students doing projects with groups all over the School. Students worked on projects as varied as

– how heat is transferred along a metal bar

– how the “Sundiver” probe will communicate its results as it falls towards the Sun

– the best way to detect the Higgs boson in LHC data

– using fiber optics for non-contact imaging inside a patient’s body,

– whether we could ever hover above a black hole.

We also took 22 students on a field-trip during mid-semester break to major research facilities in the Canberra region. We visited Geoscience Australia, Tidbinbilla, ANU Physics and Mt Stromlo. The trip was a great success; staff at each of the institutions gave up valuable time to give inspirational tours and talks to our very enthusiastic students.

TALENTED STUDENTS PROGRAM(TSP)

Right: TSP students in front of the 70m Deep Space Network disk at Tidbinbilla.

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RESEARCH THEMES

REPORTS FROM RESEARCH GROUPS WITHIN THE SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

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The research focuses on technologies that directly benefits the community. Much of this work is carried out with industry partners resulting in valuable intellectual property. Our research is highly interdisciplinary and frequently carried out at the nanoscale, placing us centrally in the Nanoscience field. It includes research that has immediate application, as well as long-term fundamental research. The group includes 13 staff members, 3 honorary associates, 14 students and 9 industry partner companies.

Thin Film Materials Physics.In our continued work on thin film materials, we have developed cathodic arcs as deposition tools for creating nanolaminate coatings and graded alloy materials, and shown how energetic ions can be used to engineer stress profiles and optimise adhesion. We have also carried out combinatorial studies using multiple sputtering sources. Combinatorial methods are a powerful way of finding new alloys systems as they allow the searching of a wide compositional space in a single deposition. Alloys studied include Ta-Al-C and Cr-Al-C, which are candidate systems for the production of the new MAX phase alloys that promise a combination of high strength and high radiation hardness.

Physics of Processing Plasmas and HiPIMS developmentA highlight from our research in processing plasmas—in particular on a new configuration of magnetron sputtering for implementing High Power Impulse Magnetron Sputtering (HiPIMS) and exploited a magnetic field coil mounted on top of a magnetron source to increase the flux of material at the substrate. We have developed a feedback model predictive of the voltage-current behaviour of processing plasmas, including the time dependent plasmas in HiPIMS.

Surface Functionalisation using Radicals for Covalent Binding We have demonstrated a plasma process for binding bioactive molecules such as proteins, enzymes and peptides, covalently on surfaces. This technology which is now protected by a portfolio of 5 patents, underpins our contributions to the $1.85M net worth Cooperative Research Centre for Cell Therapy Manufacturing. Important technological outcomes of employing this technology to place biologically active molecules at interfaces have been demonstrated in the production of biofuels from cellulosic waste; dramatic enhancements in biocompatibility and tissue integration for implantable biomedical devices and prosthetics; antibody microarrays for the rapid diagnosis of disease and the identification of key cell surface biomarkers of cell differentiation. Our coating for cardiovascular stents gives a dramatic reduction in blood clots and allows the surface to be functionalized with active biomolecules (eg Catalyst telecast www.abc.net.au/catalyst/stories/4145875.htm).

NanofluidicsIn the field of nanofluidics, our research has been applied to implanted hearing devices. Gas vapour and liquid flows in micro and nanochannels determine the moisture penetration of encapsulations of implantable medical devices. We have made the first measurements and associated theory of the flow rate of water vapor through microchannels. Gas vapour and liquid flows in micro and nanochannels are significant in determining the moisture penetration of encapsulations of implantable medical devices. As such, our findings were applied to the testing of hermetic feedthroughs in Cochlear hearing implants.

Physics for Medicine and Biology-VECTOR Lab

Further to our work involving physics for medicine, the VECTOR Lab is a joint venture of the Applied and Plasma Physics Group and the Chris O’Brien Lifehouse at Royal Prince Alfred hospital. It is supported by Sydney Catalyst under the pilot and seed funding program. We are developing nanoparticle technologies for cancer treatment in a combined therapy between radiation therapy and chemotherapy. We

APPLIED AND PLASMA PHYSICS GROUP

The Applied and Plasma Physics Group (APP), led by Professors Marcela Bilek and David McKenzie, are world leaders in the development of plasma process for the modification of materials and interfaces.

Actin fiber assembly showing healthy cell growth in response to surface immobilized protein. Scale bar is 100 μm

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have developed a scintillation dosimeter to determine correction factors for dosimeters. In a collaborative study with the Australian Proteomics Facility at Macquarie University, we have studied the use of proteomics to determine the response of cells to radiation.

Cooperative Research Centre (CRC) for Cell Therapy Manufacturing The University of Sydney is a node of the CRC for Cell Therapy Manufacturing, led by Professors Marcela Bilek and David McKenzie from the Applied and Plasma Research Group collaborating with Professor Weiss (from the Charles Perkins Centre). Our work is developing bioactive surfaces for cost effective expansion of cell populations. This is a key requirement in the CRCs quest to make Cell Therapies, which have already been shown to be capable of curing many currently incurable diseases. New technology for the plasma activation and biofunctionalisation of hollow fibre cassettes has been developed and patented for use in Termo BCT’s Quantum Bioreactor. In a second project with Athersys, we are developing dressings for the expansion and delivery of highly potent, wound-healing stem cells.

Image of expanded stent strut, coated with our unique biomolecule-binding layer as featured on Catalyst (Dec 11 2014). The internal structure of this coating has been optimized so that no delamination occurs despite major plastic deformation of the structure.

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2014 has been an exciting year for the Astrophotonics group at the School of Physics; with several highlights and new research directions, as well as excellent progress in education, research and building capacity.

We had two astrophotonic students graduating in 2014; Christopher Trinh (PhD) and Joel Salazar-Gil (MSc in Photonics). We were successful in leading two ARC grants (DP, LIEF); and one industrial research grant from Horticulture Australia Limited (HAL), through collaboration with the Australian Centre for Field Robotics (ACFR).

Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn was recognised with the highly prestigious ARC Laureate Fellowship. His fellowship project will assemble a team to build Hector over the next 5 years, an Australian astronomical instrument that uses fibre bundles positioned by robots, in collaboration with the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO). Hector, with Dr Julia Bryant as the Project Scientist, will be a significant step up from the extremely successful SAMI instrument currently at the Anglo-Australian telescope. This instrument will be able to look at a hundred galaxies simultaneously for the first time.

The Astrophotonics group secured a University of Sydney investment of $2M dollars in new equipment and facilities to establish the new Sydney Astrophotonic Instrumentation Laboratory (SAIL), with Dr Sergio Leon-Saval as the Director. As part of the new SAIL infrastructure, late in 2014 PhD student Emma Lindley and Research Fellow Dr Seong-Sik Min started to develop one of the most advanced Fibre Bragg Grating University facilities in Australia to be completed in 2015.

ASTROPHOTONICS

III Astrophotonica Australis 28th Nov 2014; a University of Sydney, Macquarie University, AAO, Bandwidth Foundry joint workshop.

Research into astrophotonics at the University of Sydney is at the forefront of developing new materials and devices for astronomical instrumentation around the world.

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Astrophotonic students Dr Christopher Trinh (PhD) and Mr Joel Salazar-Gil (MPhot) in the University of Sydney May 2014 graduation ceremony; left to right – Dr Trinh, Dr Leon-Saval, Mr Salazar-Gil and A/Prof Argyros.

Our esteemed colleague, Dr Bill Tango, was awarded the prestigious 2014 Fizeau Prize from the International Astronomical Union, recognising his long-term efforts in the development of optical interferometry. The prize recognises Bill’s publication of the seminal paper on optical interferometry in 1980, and his role in the construction and operation of several major ground based instruments, including most recently the Sydney University Stellar Interferometer (SUSI).

PhD student Chris Betters demonstrated the revolutionary PIMMS concept in a paper that drew special praise from an anonymous referee for its breathtaking originality and execution. Furthermore, this year also saw the first on-sky demonstration of the PIMMS diffraction limited spectrograph technology at the UKST telescope at Siding Spring Observatory by Chris Betters and Sam Richards. Photonic lanterns were explored for telecommunications systems through several high-calibre international collaborations led by Sergio Leon-Saval with Alcatel Lucent Bell Labs and CUDOS, producing several postdeadline papers at the major optical conferences such as ECOC, FIO, OFC.

Professor Peter Tuthill’s group continued its successful collaboration with the Subaru Telescope, Hawaii. Earlier this year, the VAMPIRES instrument (an interferometric polarimeter) led by PhD student Barnaby Norris passed its

commissioning review and is now ready to do science at Subaru. The group also played a leading role in constructing the most efficient photonic injections systems at the Subaru telescope, which serves as a long-term platform for on-sky deployment of photonic technologies on the largest class of telescopes. This has enabled successful telescope testing of integrated photonic spectrographs, fed by the best adaptive optics systems. Further, our photonic interferometry instruments (Dragonfly), led by Dr Nick Cvetojevic and Professor Peter Tuthill, have demonstrated world-leading performance and have been scheduled for a number of on-telescope deployment runs in 2015 at the AAT Telescope.

In recent years, numerous papers describe the use of the orbital angular momentum (OAM) of light. In collaboration with A/Professor Gabriel Molina-Terriza (Macquarie University), PhD student Richard Neo is developing a telescope-mounted instrument to measure OAM states. We are presently calibrating the instrumental and environmental (turbulent) effects on the OAM content of light in collaboration with the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO).

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Led by the University of Sydney, we aim to deliver transformational new science by bringing together unique expertise in radio astronomy, optical astronomy, theoretical astrophysics and computation.

2014 was another successful year for CAASTRO, but it was also a year of changes. Professor Bryan Gaensler, who led the Centre from its inception, stepped down in September 2014 and Professor Elaine Sadler took over as CAASTRO Director. Bryan has left the Centre in excellent shape, and will continue to be part of CAASTRO in his new role as an overseas Partner Investigator.

At CAASTRO’s Sydney node, the team for 2014 included 31 members, 10 of which were students. The main research activities at the Sydney node fall within CAASTRO’s Evolving Universe and Dynamic Universe themes.

Our major activities for 2014 (and the researchers involved in them) included:

– The SAMI Galaxy survey, an ambitious new study of the internal structure and kinematics of stars and gas within galaxies which uses a novel ‘hexabundle’ multi-object integral-field spectrograph jointly developed by Sydney and AAO (Allen, Bland-Hawthorn, Bloom, Bryant, Croom, Fogarty, McElroy, Richards, Sadler, Schaefer, Scott).

– Studies of the redshifted 21cm absorption line of neutral hydrogen as a probe of the cold gas in the distant Universe, using the new Australian SKA Pathfinder (ASKAP) radio telescope

(Allison, Curran, Glowacki, Moss, Reeves, Sadler).

– Calibration and analysis of low-frequency radio data from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA), with a particular focus on polarization measurements (Callingham, Gaensler, Lenc).

– Preparations for two ambitious new radio transient surveys with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) pathfinder telescopes: MWA transients and ASKAP VAST (Burlon, Gaensler, Loi, Musaeva, Murphy).

– Upgrading the Molonglo radio telescope to a system with increased bandwidth and a new digital correlator, in collaboration with CAASTRO CI Matthew Bailes and colleagues at Swinburne (Campbell-Wilson, Green).

2014 saw the first public release of data from the SAMI galaxy survey, with a paper presenting fully-calibrated data cubes for a representative selection of 107 galaxies along with a range of additional information about these galaxies. This year, we also obtained the first detection of neutral hydrogen in a distant galaxy with ASKAP. Using commissioning data from the six-antenna ASKAP test array, CAASTRO researchers discovered a previously unknown HI absorption line at z=0.44 towards a radio galaxy of unknown redshift. Optical spectroscopic observations confirmed that the absorbing gas is located within the host galaxy of the radio source, and this represents an important milestone for HI studies with ASKAP.

CAASTRO Honours student Cleo Loi discovered a series of spectacular wave-like structures in the ionosphere by analyzing time-series data from the Murchison Widefield Array. Cleo’s work was initially motivated by a desire to understand the effect of variations in the electron density of the ionosphere on the measured positions and flux densities of distant radio sources, but she discovered that the wide-field nature and excellent snapshot capabilities of the MWA also make it a powerful instrument for ionospheric science which can probe the ionosphere on regional (1-100 km) scales. Cleo’s work represents first time a radio telescope has been used to probe the ionosphere with such high spatio-temporal resolution over such a wide field of view.

Our education and outreach activities include the “CAASTRO in the Classroom” (CitC) program, which uses our video conferencing system to stream talks and discussion sessions with CAASTRO astronomers to high schools across New South Wales. The School of Physics also hosts CAASTRO’s main administrative office, which coordinates a wide range of activities across our seven university nodes. A notable extra activity for COO Kate Gunn and the admin team in 2014 was the organisation of the ARC Mid-Term Review of CAASTRO in November. A great deal of work went into making sure we were as well-prepared as possible, and it was gratifying to receive an extremely positive report from the review panel.

CAASTRO

The ARC Centre of Excellence for All-sky Astrophysics (CAASTRO) is a collaboration of international astronomers dedicated to wide-field astronomy.

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The ARC Centre of Excellence for Particle Physics at the Terascale (CoEPP) is a collaborative research venture between the Universities of Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, and Monash.

CoEPP brings together particle—or high-energy—physics experimentalists and theorists to work on the pressing questions facing the field today, including supersymmetry, dark matter and dark energy.

2014 saw CoEPP reach the halfway point of its 7-year term, which runs to early 2018. The Centre was reviewed very positively by the ARC in its official mid-term review in November.

With the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) at CERN in shutdown mode (it is set to resume operations at a higher collision energy of 13 TeV in the first half of 2015) much emphasis has been on completing the analysis of the data from “Run 1”, taken from 2010 to 2012 at energies of 7 TeV and 8 TeV. It is now well known that Run 1 revealed the existence of a Higgs boson, and much effort has gone into determining whether the new particle has all of the properties expected of the Standard Model (SM) Higgs, or contains hints of Physics beyond.

CoEPP’s experimental program is based on the ATLAS experiment at the LHC. Our Sydney node was strengthened in mid-2014 by the transfer of CoEPP Chief Investigator Dr Antonio Limosani from Melbourne to Sydney. Locally we have been heavily involved in several efforts within ATLAS. The first is study the decay of a Higgs to two tau leptons, which establishes the strength of a Higgs coupling to fermions (Geng-yuan

Jeng, Mark Scarcella, Curtis Black). A second is the simultaneous precision measurements of the rate of SM processes that result in a pair of opposite sign electrons or muons, badged AIDA (An Inclusive Dilepton Analysis; Kevin Finelli, Aldo Saavedra, Antonio Limosani, Carl Suster in collaboration with colleagues at Duke University). Our effort also involves explicit study of heavy quarks, top and bottom. We have pioneered a new method of treating top-quark studies at the LHC (Ian Watson, in collaboration with colleagues at the University of Geneva), and searched for potentially new and exotic particles containing pairs of bottom quarks (Cameron Cuthbert and Bruce Yabsley).

Our particle theory group, established as part of CoEPP, continued to grow, with Dr Michael Schmidt arriving in June to take up a fixed-term lectureship. The 2014 theory program included studies of LHC phenomenology (Lei Wu, Jason Yue, Archil Kobakhidze), the vacuum stability of the Universe in light of the Higgs discovery (Alex Spencer-Smith, Archil Kobakhidze), and the mystery of neutrino masses (Michael Schmidt, Kristian McDonald).

In February our Sydney node organised the annual CoEPP Summer School and Workshop, the former in the School of Physics and the latter at the Novotel North Beach Hotel in Wollongong. The strength of the field in Australia now is evidenced by the fact that over 100 people attended. July saw us participate in an International Particle Physics Masterclass, hosting around 40 local high school students.

Three students completed ATLAS PhDs in 2014; Nik Patel, Ian Watson and Cameron Cuthbert, with Nik and Ian taking on fellowships from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science at Kyoto University and the University of Tokyo, respectively.

Dr Michael Schmidt joined the CoEPP Sydney Theory Group in 2014.

CoEPP

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We use first-principles electronic structure calculations in conjunction with high performance computing to probe chemical reactions at interfaces and explore the energetics, atomic, electronic, and magnetic properties of polyatomic systems.

Some highlights of the last year are in the area of complex oxides, including bulk, interface and defect related phenomena. Our studies of bulk complex oxides have mostly revolved around SrZrO

3 and Sr(Ti, Zr)O

3 alloys. The properties of native defects and

hydrogen impurities have also been investigated in detail, with particular emphasis on how they affect the electronic, magnetic and optical properties, which led to our study in Physical Review B. With regard to oxide interfaces, recent experimental work has shown that magnetism emerges at the interface between the non-magnetic oxides SrTiO

3 and LaAlO

3. This

phenomenon appears to be intricately tied to the formation of a two-dimensional electron gas (2DEG) at the interface, leading researchers to believe that magnetic moments lie at the interface Ti 3d states. Surprisingly, later experiments indicated that depletion of the 2DEG has no effect on magnetism. Using first-principles calculations, we were able to demonstrate that Al vacancies at the LaAlO

3 surface induce a robust

two-dimensional magnetic state (see Fig. 1), which is facilitated by the electron transfer from the LAO surface to the 2DEG, explaining how formation of a 2DEG can give rise to magnetic moments which do not reside at the interface 2DEG itself. This work appeared in Physical Review Letters for 2014.

We are also interested in how magnetism and ferroelectricity can coexist in complex oxides, as the two orders have traditionally excluded one another. Our approach has been to dope a nominally nonmagnetic ferroelectric host material with a magnetic cation. Importantly, these cations exhibit the so-called multiferroic crossover effect, which as we have demonstrated could provide a pathway to electric field manipulation of magnetism. Currently, we are focusing on investigating/designing single phase multiferroics of the ABO

3 from, exhibiting strongly coupled electronic and magnetic

polarization.

Fig.1: The magnetic state induced by an Al vacancy at the LaAlO3 surface is demonstrated by plotting

the spin density isosurface (in yellow), viewed in (a) along the [100] direction, and in (b) along the [00-1] direction. La atoms are represented as pink spheres, Al are blue, O are red.

Recently we are also conducting research using modified graphene as sensors. In particular, we have studied time-dependent and time-independent quantum phenomena in nanostructures based on the nonequilibrium Green’s function method (NEGF) combined with DFT as well as the time-dependent density functional theory (TDDFT). The aim is to understand the various ways in which electric and magnetic fields interact with matter, and using the various theoretical tools available, as well as improving them, in order to explore the physical and chemical aspects of such interactions and predicting systems with potential industrial applications. We have examined various systems with a focus on interesting physical properties such as chemical sensitivity of transport,

CONDENSED MATTER THEORY GROUP

In the Condensed Matter Theory (CMT) group, we focus on ab initio investigations of materials and surface science phenomena.

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rectification, switching, spin-filtering, negative differential resistance (NDR), optical response, interaction between molecules and nanostructures with static and dynamic strong fields. We have also studied gas-surface interactions and the potential of metal-treated nanostructures in gas capture and selective sensing.

In our transport studies, we have shown the effectiveness of Ti and Sn doped double-vacancy graphene nanoribbons (GNR) as potential sensors for two sulphur gas species (H

2S and SO

2) by a detailed analysis of the current-voltage characteristics, which

was published in Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics. Our results demonstrate the sensitivity of both Ti- and Sn-doped systems to H

2S, and the mild sensitivity of Ti-doped

sensor systems to SO2. The Ti-doped sensor structure exhibits sensitivity to H

2S with or

without oxidation, while oxidation of the Sn-doped sensor structure reduces its ability to adsorb H

2S and SO

2 molecules. Interestingly, oxygen dissociates on the Ti-doped sensor

structure, but it does not affect the sensor’s response to the H2S gas species. Oxidation

prevents the dissociation of the H-S bond when H2S adsorbs on the Ti-doped structure,

thus enhancing its reusability for this gas species.

Fig. 2: I-V characteristics for (a) Sn/DV ZGNR and (b) Ti/DV ZGNR systems. The label “Pure” denotes the system without any gases. O

2+gas denotes the adsorption of the gas molecule on the oxidized

structure.

Studying the interesting transport properties in a proposed diamondoid-cumulene molecular junction, we also reported large rectification and negative differential resistance [2]. Interestingly, we found that the conductivity of the diamondoid-cumulene systems is strongly dependent upon whether n is even or odd in the cumulene (C

n) chain.

Fig. 3: Atomic structure of the molecular device, composed of a pentamantane molecule (C26

H32

) bonded to a C

n carbon chain, and sandwiched between two gold electrodes and linked to each electrode

through a sulfur atom. n defines the length of the carbon chain. Yellow balls are for carbon, white balls are for sulfur, blue balls are for hydrogen and golden balls are for gold.

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In the School of Physics Centre for Quantum Computation and Communication Technology (CQC2T) members include the School of Physics are Professor David McKenzie, Dr Oliver Warschkow, Dr Pourandokht Naseri, and Honours student Lauren McKenzie-Sell. We collaborate with researchers from the University of NSW, Curtin University of Technology, University College London, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, and The Australian Synchotron.

UNIVERSITY OF SYDNEY ATOMISTIC SIMULATION PROGRAMThe Atomistic Simulation Program provides molecular modelling support to the experimental quantum computer fabrication programs with a particular focus on the “bottom-up” approach to the synthesis of solid state silicon-based qubit. We work closely with members of the Atomic-Scale Fabrication Program to develop a fundamental understanding of the silicon-phosphorus-hydrogen chemistry that underpins bottom-up fabrication. This understanding facilitates the full atomic-scale control required for qubit fabrication. In associated work, we examine the electronic structure of d-doped semiconductors and we explore theoretically some of the more generic aspects of molecular manipulations on semiconductor surfaces.

Our principal simulation methods are based on density functional theory (DFT), which provides a first-principles model of the electronic and atomic structure of molecules, surfaces, and solids. Using this theory we can predict the atom

positions and relative energetics of molecules adsorbed on surfaces and identify stable configurations. Via the Tersoff-Hamann approximation we can generate simulated STM images to be compared with those measured experimentally. Transition state calculations allow the estimation of reaction rates; such calculations help with the interpretation of temperature-dependent transitions observed in STM experiments. The method of kinetic Monte Carlo (KMC) is used to aggregate our accumulated knowledge of the elementary chemical transitions into dynamical models that can describe phenomena at time- and length-scales relevant to fabrication. Band structure calculations are used to characterise the electronic properties of the system at hand.

In 2014, progress was made in two areas. We have (1) reported experimental measurements of the electronic band structure of phosphorus d-doped silicon, with findings that are in excellent agreement with our earlier theoretical predictions, and (2) probed the switching between flat and upright oriented organic molecules on the silicon surface using synchrotron soft X-ray spectroscopy, scanning tunnelling microscopy, and density functional theory.

Phosphorus d-Doping of SiliconPhosphorus d-doped silicon is a silicon crystal in which phosphorus dopant atoms are confined into a single atomic layer. These dopant layers form a highly conducting two-dimensional electron gas, which is used to form contacts and gate electrodes in bottom-up fabricated Si:P devices. We have used theoretical modelling to develop

CENTRE FOR QUANTUM COMPUTATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY

The ARC Centre of Excellence for Quantum Computation & Communication Technology (CQC2T) is an international research effort to develop the science and technology of a global quantum computing information network, encompassing ultra-fast quantum computation, absolutely secure quantum communication and distributed quantum information processing.

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a fundamental understanding of the electronic properties of d-doped silicon, and descriptions of key aspects of the band structure have been published in Nanotechnology and Physics Review B. One of the properties of interest is the valley splitting, which describes the breaking of the six-fold symmetry of the conduction band minima in silicon. The valley splitting is sensitively dependent on the density of phosphorus dopants in the d-plane and the degree of dopant disorder. Beginning in 2013, we collaborated with the Norwegian University of Science and Technology to measure the band structure and valley splitting using angle-resolved x-ray photoemission spectroscopy (ARPES). This resulted in a high-impact publication in the journal Nano Letters. Fig. 1 shows a comparison of (a) the ARPES measured band structure around the Brillouin zone centre, and (b,c) our

calculated band structures for two types of phosphorus atom arrangements in the dopant plane. The experiment matches the theory predictions of two valley-split bands (labelled 1Γ and 2Γ) with a near-parabolic shape around the band minimum.

Manipulation of an Organic Molecule on the Si(001) Surface The ability to controllably manipulate single atoms and molecules into nanoelectronic device structures is a key technological skill for the Centre, being at the core of the “bottom-up” phosphine-on-silicon qubit fabrication approach. As described in our 2013 paper in the Journal of Physical Chemistry C, the organic molecule acetophenone provides a good case study to develop an improved understanding of single-molecule manipulation by scanning tunnelling microscopy, and our ability

to model such processes. The molecule binds to the silicon (001) surface initially in a flat orientation. In 2014, we have studied this transition experimentally using soft X-ray spectroscopy at the Australian Synchrotron in Melbourne. This work was published in the Journal of Physics: Condensed Matter.

Fig. 1 Comparison of the (a) ARPES-measured, and (b,c) DFT-calculated band structure of ¼ monolayer phosphorus d-doped silicon. The experiment has clearly resolved two parabolic bands which qualitatively matches the theoretical prediction of two zone-centred bands, 1Γ and 2Γ.The calculated Fermi surface of the 1Γ and 2Γ bands overlayed onto the experimental ARPES intensity in the reciprocal k

x, k

y plane (d).

Panels (e) and (f) show the calculated band dispersions overlayed on the ARPES intensities in the <100> and <110> directions, respectively.

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We bring together expertise from researchers at the University of Sydney, ANU, Macquarie University, Swinburne University, the University of Technology Sydney and CSIRO, with the aim of creating a world-best on-chip photonic platform for information transfer and processing technologies.

2014 marked the mid-point of the Centre’s seven-year period of funding by the ARC (2011- 2017) under the Centres of Excellence scheme. Early in the year we invited our Scientific Advisory Committee, a group of eminent international scientists, to review our research performance while later in the year the ARC exercised its contractual right to review our overall achievements against the objectives of the Centre of Excellence scheme.

The Scientific Advisory Committee strongly endorsed the Centre’s research excellence, the quality of the researchers, and the culture of the Centre. The report resulting from the ARC’s Mid Term Performance Review

was also very positive and our funding was confirmed through to the end of 2017.

CUDOS is poised to continue its record of research achievements while moving towards commercialisation of these outcomes in the areas of mid infrared photonics and terabit per second photonics.

Some of the more noteworthy research achievements during 2014 include several at the forefront of physics:

– In research published in Nature Communications we observed, in collaboration with researchers from Wollongong University in Australia and Stanford and Caltech in the US, the Aharonov-Bohm (AB) effect for light and used this effect with modern optical technology to build a non-reciprocal, one way, circuit for light. Our approach is far more compact than previous work and is well-suited to deployment as a highly compact optical isolator in a photonic circuit.

– Our joint project with the Australian Astronomical Observatory (AAO) with Dr Nick Cvetojevic has led to the development of novel astrophotonic instrumentation deployed at the Subaru Telescope in Hawaii, resulting in over $5M worth of telescope time being allocated to deployment of these instruments in 2015.

– The fission of optical solitons in a nanophotonic waveguide was directly observed by CUDOS Sydney researcher Chad Husko using the near-field electromagnetic imaging approach pioneered by our Partner Investigator Kobus Kuipers in Amsterdam. Chad continued this international collaboration to observe on-chip soliton compression with these results published in Nature Communications and presented as a post deadline at CLEO in the US.

CUDOS

CUDOS, the ARC Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems, is headquartered in the School of Physics.

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In 2014, Dr John Hedditch joined the group, which is led by A/Professor Joe Khachan, to add to the growing program of inertial electrostatic confinement fusion (IECF). The group also consists of PhD students Rehan Bandara, Richard Bowden-Reid, Joe Builth-Williams, Scott Cornish, David Gummersall, Adam Israel, Dominic Poznic, and Johnson Ren. Various research projects are carried out by the group in order to produce clean and sustainable energy from the fusion of light elements.

The advantage of this approach is that there is no radioactive waste and the starting materials are abundant (easily obtained from water). Moreover, certain types of fusion reactions such as those of protons with boron nuclei directly produce electrical power without any intermediate process.

The basic principle behind IECF is to produce an electrostatic force directed to a central point in space that attracts nuclei and traps them for a short period in order for them to undergo nuclear fusion. This approach is very similar to the way fusion energy is ignited by

the central gravitational force in a star. However, the challenge in an Earth based system is to carry it out on a much smaller scale. This type of fusion is inherently immune from the instabilities and other detrimental effects that have plagued mainstream fusion research based on a magnetic confinement device known as a tokamak. In addition, IECF also promises to be significantly cheaper to manufacture and run.

The group is one of six around the world, mostly located in Japan and the USA, carrying out work on IECF. We have made significant advances on the international scale in identifying energy loss mechanism in these small devices, and are currently building new devices to greatly reduce the losses and that, in principle, will set the path to an energy producing device.

From the fusion work, we have produced a spin-off technology that has found a niche market in the growing field of nano-satellites. These are satellites that are 1 to 10 kg in mass that are cheap to make, and relatively inexpensive to launch into low earth orbit. They

currently lack a reliable propulsion method. The work on IECF has resulted in a new concept in electric propulsion of these small satellites, known as the miniature charge exchange thruster (MCXT), which is easy to manufacture and consumes very little power. This has resulted in a patent and an ongoing collaboration with The Defence Science and Technology Office (DSTO), part of the Australian Department of Defence. Currently negotiations are being undertaken with potential commercial partners so that this technology can achieve a high level of technological readiness in order for it to be flown on a low earth orbit satellite.

FUSION PLASMASThe fusion plasma group explores innovative methods of producing clean and sustainable energy on a table-top scale from the fusion of hydrogen isotopes as well as other light elements.

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Our research program in medical physics spans a broad spectrum; from fundamental physics modelling and experimental work all the way up to translational research that feeds into clinical practice.

We work in a strongly multi-disciplinary way, partnering with hospitals and other research institutes; particularly with hospital-based medical physicists, who link in to the School of Physics via our institute.

Broadly, our research areas include: use of biological physics concepts to model and understand living matter; development, application and quantitative analysis of novel imaging techniques for diagnosing and delineating human disease; radiation dosimetry development and modelling for cancer treatment; and development of technologies, tools and methods for advanced radiation oncology/radiotherapy, with the goal of improving cancer treatment accuracy and outcomes.

Increasingly, our fundamental research is occurring at smaller and smaller scales, with a move into nano-medicine applications. As a result, the IMP’s Professor Zdenka Kuncic has been invited to lead inter-disciplinary research in the university’s Australian Institute of Nanoscale Science and Technology. Meanwhile at the opposite end of the spectrum—in our translational research—Professor David Thwaites set up and leads an Australian university consortium into projects focussed on improving radiation treatment of cancer. The consortium gained federal Department of Health (DoH) and partner funding over the last two years for more than 30 researchers, more than half of which are linked to the University of Sydney. These researchers have worked in diverse areas, including: deformable image mapping and registration for tissue structure changes with time; adaptive radiotherapy techniques and radiation dose accumulation methods for these situations; development of 4-dimensional dosimetry methods to quantify doses when treating moving tumours (eg in the lung); development of radiation detectors and dosimetry methods to evaluate doses and their uncertainties in complex clinical practice (such as for small treatment beams for modelling and modulating radiation beam intensities, to optimise radiation

dose distributions across tumours and adjacent normal tissues). A recent project has cross-linked physics to bio-informatics, using datamining and distributed learning from historic cancer treatment data to model and improve future clinical decisions. On top of the support provided by the federal DoH, we have received grant funding from the NSW Ministry of Health and Office of Health and Medical Research, the Cancer Council NSW, and the Australian Cancer Research Foundation, among others.

As for our mid-spectrum research, a great example is the work done by Sam Blake, a recently completed PhD student. Sam worked on developing a next-generation medical detector technology using a novel tissue-equivalent scintillating optical fibre array developed by the project team. This technology can provide a fully integrated solution to imaging and dose measurement at megavoltage x-ray energies, simultaneously, for joint cancer imaging and targeted x-ray therapy. Sam developed and optimised prototypes (Figs 1 and 2) and successfully tested them for clinical application. Work is now underway with clinical collaborators (Ingham Institute, Liverpool Hospital) and industry partners to extend the prototype’s capabilities to commercial specifications.

Fig. 2: the virtual detector developed to optimise the prototype design by simulating both the

x-ray and optical scintillation processes.

INSTITUTE OF MEDICAL PHYSICS (IMP)

Fig. 1: the experimental prototype device, which can acquire x-ray images and measure dose distribution at megavoltage energies. The zoom-in shows the scintillating optical fibre array.

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The major focus of activity for the IPOS research group in 2014 has been to build on and extend our breakthrough work in metamaterials. Over the last few years we have demonstrated a technique to fabricate metamaterials in useful quantities. These artificial materials can be designed to have extraordinary electromagnetic properties unavailable in nature, which in turn permit exotic functionality like invisibility cloaking and lenses that resolve way below the classical limit. These materials are very precise sub-wavelength arrays of highly dissimilar materials, and have proven extremely difficult to fabricate, especially in any practical quantities. Our novel approach was to apply the established fibre drawing technique. After demonstrating the ability to control first permittivity, and then permeability, this work culminatedour research broke new ground in late in 2013 with a hyperlens capable of resolving to λ/50 and propagating over hundreds of wavelengths.

These breakthrough results were achieved in the THz spectral region using polymers and indium on a microscale. A major focus this year has been to translate this capability from polymer to glass, and reduce the sizes by an order of magnitude or two down to nanoscale so that we can realise bulk metamaterials in the optical spectrum, particularly the near and mid IR. This move into nanofabrication has involved substantial capability development and current results (see figure) show we are now poised to deliver a new wave of results in practical nanostructured metamaterials.

We have also been exploring the application and extension of the THz metamaterialsmetamatetials; including the practical imaging with the hyperlens and further improving the resolution.

Research on poling, which involves inducing non-linearity in glass through relocation of internal charges, has pursued two new collaborations; applying our understanding of this process to modify the behaviour of bioglasses, and the development of quantum photonic sources.

We also have very promising results on a novel form of solar concentrator, and anticipate a significant publication early in 2015, with potential for commercial exploitation.

Several opportunities to apply microstructured polymer fibre to biomedical problems have been identified over the year and we are actively exploring how to develop them.

2015 should be an exciting year as the efforts expended in 2014 start to bear fruit with important publications and opportunities to work with industry.

IPOSThe Institute of Photonics and Optical Science (IPOS) is a highly collaborative group that draws together research in optics and photonics across the Schools of Physics, Electrical and Information Engineering, Mathematics, Chemistry and the Electron Microscope Unit.

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It combines expertise in physics, mathematics, environmental science, economics, computing, and social science to address major challenges in quantifying sustainability issues.

2015 is seeing the completion of the Industrial Ecology Virtual Laboratory (IELab)—a ground-breaking electronic infrastructure that enables powerful sustainability analysis. Begun in 2012, this ISA-led project provides the technical infrastructure for a collaborative research platform—a Virtual Laboratory—in a high-performance cloud-computing environment. It connects previously isolated researchers and provides common tools and data system to catalyse research synergies with the power to generate transformative knowledge.

The IELab is now hosted on a research cloud delivered by the multi-million dollar National eResearch Collaboration Tools and Resources (NeCTAR) Project. This NeCTAR research cloud enables multiple users to collaboratively construct and use tailored large-scale multi-region input-output frameworks for environmental and social impact analysis. The IELab is already being used by researchers from more than ten large universities across Australia and CSIRO.

As the main organisation responsible for designing and developing the IELab, ISA was awarded seed funding in November to develop a proposal for the International Social Science Commission (ISSC) to build on the IELab at a global level. The proposal brings together global stakeholders in the IELab with NGOs to lay the groundwork for creating virtual laboratories for developing countries and a world-first social indicator research stream: The Social Footprint Laboratory (SFL). The SFL builds on ISA’s work on the social impacts of doing business. One example is the Employment Footprints of Nations depicted in the diagram below.

Many developing countries such as India and China provide substantial labour for

the sake of satisfying high-income consumers’ demands, generally in developed countries. However, the major global wage flows are predominantly between rich countries. To satisfy their demand, rich countries require the work of more people than their own workforce. In contrast, a large part of the work of people in poor countries is dedicated to producing exports destined for rich countries. This finding highlights international master and servant relationships. While trade-related employment impacts are nothing new, the quantification of both the quality of

“traded employment” and the full (net) employment links between virtually each and every country in the world is a major innovation provided by ISA’s work.

Finally, ISA has conducted yet another round of technical training on energy audits, resource accounting, marine parks conservation, and waste management, for leader from more than a dozen small-island developing countries, funded by the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.

THE INTEGRATED SUSTAINABILITY ANALYSIS (ISA) GROUPThe Integrated Sustainability Analysis (ISA) Group is a multi-disciplinary research team situated in the School of Physics.

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Quantum DevicesIn 2014, our work focused on the project Controlling electron spin in semiconductor quantum devices. This was a strongly collaborative venture between the project’s three Chief Investigators: theorists Associate Professor Andrew Doherty (School of Physics) and Tom Stace (University of Queensland) and the experimental team of Professor David Reilly’s laboratory (School of Physics). Supporting the project’s CIs were researchers James Colless, Xanthe Croot and Matthew Wardrop; and collaborators Sean Barrett (deceased), Jing Lu and Arthur Gossard.

Single electrons individually trapped and manipulated in semiconductors are one of the most promising avenues for engineered quantum systems. This project investigates the ways in which the magnetic moment, or spin, of these electrons can be controlled, either electrically or through applying microwaves, and how acoustic vibrations, or phonons, affect this control. Our

results highlight the role of the phononic environment in understanding the driven dynamics of coherent quantum systems and provide a path for transducing quantum information between photons, phonons, spins and charge.

In 2014 we published a paper in the journal Nature Communications, which showed that Raman processes involving both microwaves and phonons can prepare very highly excited states of electrons trapped in one of two quantum dots.

We also published a detailed theoretical study of a proposal for coherently coupling electrons in such quantum dot systems using electrical control and the so-called exchange interaction. This work showed that even when considering all relevant experimental noise processes, very high fidelity processes should be possible in future experiments.

QUANTUM SCIENCE

The Quantum Science Group conducts research that seeks to realise new and otherwise inaccessible regimes of physics through the construction of hybrid quantum systems.

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SYDNEY INSTITUTE FOR ASTRONOMY

Fig. 1. The first panel shows the atomic hydrogen gas in the Magellanic Clouds and the Stream that trails behind them. The next two panels show plausible orbit tracks for the LMC (red) and SMC (yellow) on the sky. The blue emission is the predicted gas trail to be compared with the first panel (Taken from Magda Guglielmo’s PhD thesis).

SIFA has had an excellent year with numerous research highlights, 12 PhD completions, 8 new fellowship hires and 12 grants awarded. SIFA includes the activities of CAASTRO and the Astrophotonics groups, which are reported separately.

A particular highlight was the announcement of the Hunstead Gift: Professor Dick Hunstead and his wife Penny celebrated his 50th year at the University of Sydney with the remarkable donation of $1.4M to support and enhance SIFA activities and the student experience. This generous donation will allow for many new initiatives, including bringing exciting speakers to SIFA.

In 2014, SIFA astronomers were awarded two Discovery Project grants and 8 LIEF grants. Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn was awarded an Australian Laureate Fellowship to continue his development of the Hector project, the next generation SAMI instrument for the Anglo-Australian Telescope. Three new Future Fellowships were awarded to SIFA (Dr Dennis Stello, Dr Krzysztof Bolejko, Dr Jan Hamann), a SIEF Fellowship (Dr James Allen), a Templeton Fellowship (Dr Luke Barnes) and two University of Sydney Fellowships (Dr Sanjib Sharma, Dr Nic Scott).

SIFA has a leadership role in several major international projects including the SAMI Galaxy Survey and the Galactic Archaeology Survey (GALAH) on the AAT. The GALAH survey has completed its first year of observations (100,000 stars) successfully on its 5-year mission to obtain 30 chemical abundance measurements for one million stars. The SAMI Galaxy Survey has now passed 1000 galaxies, an important milestone on the way to a total of 3400 observed galaxies.

Professor Geraint Lewis and colleagues continued their work on M31 and its dwarf galaxy population. In Nature, they point out that most dwarfs are confined to a broad plane that encircles the galaxy, rather than in a spherical halo, and this may challenge existing models of galaxy formation. Fellows Bate and Conn, and Brendan McMonigal (PhD), uncovered the accretion history of M31’s halo for the first time. Hareth Mahdi (PhD) and Dr Pascal Elahi have opened a new window on the nature of dark matter, using gravitational lensing to identify the subtle differences in the mass profile due to the differing accretion history of matter.

In Science, Professor Joss Bland-Hawthorn and colleagues showed that the diffuse interstellar bands in the RAVE stellar survey betray the presence of the Galaxy’s spiral arms. Using the same survey, Dr Sanjib Sharma was able to measure the angular velocity of the Sun around the Galactic Centre. David Webster (PhD) published a series

of papers on the intrinsic masses of ultra-faint dwarf galaxies around the Galaxy. These are consistent with being the smallest galaxies in the Universe and having formed before reionization. Magda Guglielmo (PhD), with Geraint Lewis and Joss Bland-Hawthorn, modelled the complex orbits of the Magellanic Clouds using new genetic algorithms to trace their paths over cosmic history (see Figure 1).

In Nature, Professor Peter Tuthill and colleagues described the expanding fireball of Nova Del, a powerful explosion on a white dwarf. Anthony Cheetham (PhD) explored the inner regions of the T Cha transitional disk finding that structural asymmetry attributed to an exoplanet is better explained with an inclined disk. Paul Stewart (PhD) used the Cassini spacecraft and Saturn’s rings to form images of nearby stars through diffraction.

The asteroseismology group (Professor Tim Bedding, Dr Dennis Stello, Dr Daniel Huber) measured the age of the oldest known ‘solar system’ hosting Earth sized planets and made the most precise measurement (within 120km) of the size of a planet outside the solar system. Douglas Compton (PhD) and Beau Bellamy (MSc) found new seismic properties in evolved stars using Kepler data, which resolved a decade-old problem in identifying the oscillations modes in M giants. Dr Simon Murphy developed a method for finding stars in binary systems by monitoring subtle variations in their oscillations.

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As such, our interests range from Earth’s ionosphere to the Sun’s surface to the outer boundaries of the heliosphere and solar system.

Shock waves in front of coronal mass ejections (CMEs) produce type II solar radio bursts, as well as accelerating electrons and driving high levels of plasma waves. Type IIs and CMEs produce most large space weather events at Earth. Our recent work demonstrates an impressive capability to explain type II bursts quantitatively for the first time, requiring quantitative calculations of multiple pieces of fundamental plasma physics. Current applications include the first type II burst observed from the Sun to 1 AU (Earth’s orbital distance from the Sun) by NASA’s two STEREO spacecraft and the first type II burst observed by the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA).

The group is also working with the Bureau of Meteorology’s Space Weather Services unit to better predict space weather at Earth. This includes automatically detecting solar radio bursts associated with space weather (e.g., type II and III bursts) and developing new predictive models

for the supersonic solar wind flowing away from the Sun. This includes better predictions, obtained from a theoretical model and spacecraft data, for the paths of magnetic field lines from the Sun to Earth. These are important for understanding why some solar events produce large energetic particle events at Earth, potentially damaging satellites for instance, and others do not.

Another of the group’s areas is the development of small satellites, the University’s new research network SpaceNet for space-related activities, and the entity delta-V. SpaceNet co-founded delta-V together with the University of New South Wales and two companies, Saber Astronautics and Launchbox Australia. The vision is to create Space Industry 2.0 in Australia. An industry accelerator that hopes to foster new collaborations in the space marketplace, delta-V was launched at the 2014 CeBIT ITC tradeshow2014 and featured in the speech and tour (see image) of NSW Premier Michael Baird at CeBIT, as well as in associated speech releases.

SPACE AND SOLAR PHYSICS

Professor Iver Cairns (far left) and Dr Xiaofeng Wu (second from far left) are members of the University’s SpaceNet, developing leadership in space research.

The Space and Solar Physics group studies the physics of plasmas and their applications to solar system phenomena and objects.

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2014 was a year in which SUPER continued to reap the rewards of many years of hard work. This was seen especially through national grants and the work of students undertaking research projects with the group.

Associate Professor Manjula Sharma (head of SUPER) was awarded an Office for Learning and Teaching (OLT) National Teaching Fellowship focussing on “More active lecture approaches in science and mathematics”. This led to work with Dr Helen Georgiou, former SUPER PhD student, into assessing learning in lectures across Australia, observations of many science and mathematics lectures, and implementation of a Peer Review of Teaching program supporting early career lecturers.

The SUPER group has continued to lead the OLT funded SaMnet project (Science and Mathematics Network of Australian university educators). In addition, a two million dollar OLT grant was awarded for the ASELL (Advancing Science by Enhancing Learning in the Laboratory) Schools project, which is also SUPER led.

2014 also saw SUPER featured in the media, with PhD student Simon Crook’s work being highlighted by The Australian in the article “Technology turns science of schooling on its head”. Building on his research work on 1-to-1

laptops in NSW schools, Simon has also started his own company (CrookED Science: http://crookedscience.com/) aiming to develop a passion for science and technology in teachers, parents, and students.

For two years the group has developed and implemented a new initiative in the School of Physics supporting first-year students to develop communication skills using scientific representations. PhD student Matthew Hill found that weekly online learning modules have increased learning gains in multiple areas for students in first-year regular physics. The school will continue these in 2015 when the research period is complete.

The group also continues to welcome new members. In semester 2, 2014, four first year students joined as part of the Faculty of Science’s “Talented Student Program”. For this prestigious program, the students will complete projects in information processing and online learning. A further six students from various institutions globally joined the group for the summer to launch into 2015. Finally, the coming year will see the return of Gabriel Nguyen, who completed an Honours year with SUPER in 2011.

SYDNEY UNIVERSITY PHYSICS EDUCATION RESEARCH (SUPER)

Since its founding in 1992, the SUPER group has been dedicated to conducting research on the teaching and learning of physics in an academic context.

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2003 – 2007

Growth & space pressureFrom 2003 – 2007 the School of Physics attracted top academics and funding which included 6 Federation Fellows, a Centre of Excellence and the doubling of research-only staff. Student enrolments were at record highs. This continued success and growth led to a critical overcrowding in the Physics buildings.

Consequently, whilst staff had the capacity and capability to give national leadership for the University, the volume and quality of the infrastructure in the heritage building compared unfavorably with the main competitors. Further growth was therefore limited without new and additional infrastructure.

OCTOBER 2008

A Proposal for a new Physics-Medicine-Nursing Precinct is developedIn response to continued growth and space pressure within and beyond Physics, several faculties developed a joint functional brief for new infrastructure. This brief formed the basis of documentation from which nominated designers and consultants would develop designs for a Physics, Medicine, Nursing and accommodation precinct.

“a possible goal could be a tripartite development (St Paul’s, Medicine and Physics), perhaps three separate buildings, but constructed as a single project that met the [needs of each unit]”.

JULY 2009

Education Investment Fund Grant applicationThe School is made aware of and encouraged to apply for federal funding as part of the Education Investment Fund (EIF).

SEPTEMBER 2009The School submits an EIF application for $40m.

“This project will create a world-leading Australian Institute for Nanoscience in a new building specifically designed for this purpose.,,,It will be co-located in a major research precinct spanning medical and physical science at the University of Sydney and will host a range of nationally accessible research infrastructure.”

OCTOBER 2009

Master Plan developed for new Physics-Medicine-Nursing PrecinctBates Smart present a development masterplan for the Faculties of Medicine, Nursery and Midwifery, and the School of Physics.

The masterplan includes the location of proposed new buildings including a new Physics building with a cleanroom, laboratories, lecture theatres and offices, a new medical building and library and a new nursing building.

NOVEMBER 2008

Business Case 1 for a new Physics Building The School submits a business case to the University executive in support of a new Physics building.

“This business case recommends the construction of a new building for the School of Physics and the demolition of the present A29 Physics Annexe… Key drivers are (i) the opportunity to provide world-class laboratory and research facilities and (ii) to provide new lecture and laboratory facilities for efficient undergraduate and high-quality postgraduate education.”

JUNE 2010

School of Physics secures $40M in funding from EIFThe EIF bid is successful and the School secures $40M towards the construction of the Australian Institute for Nanoscience (AIN).

“Minister for Education Julia Gillard and Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research Senator Kim Carr announced that the University of Sydney was one of four NSW education institutions to successfully secure support from the Education Investment Fund.

The AIN will focus on research across three areas - communications, medical diagnostics and astronomy - united by a common disciplinary core of nanoscale science.”

NOVEMBER 2010

Business Case 2The School submits a revised business case to the University, requesting the Senate approve additional investment of $50.1M in the AIN.

“This Business Case presents compelling arguments based on strategic and financial grounds for the University to invest in the construction of the AIN”

DECEMBER 2010Funding success

The Senate approves the investment of $50.1M in the AIN project at its meeting on 6 December 2010.

2003-2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014-2015

HISTORY OF THE AIN BUILDING

Images (left to right):

1. The Physics - Medicine - Nursing Precinct Concept

2. Early design options for the new Physics building

3. The “Reference” design for the AIN

4. Probuild GMP submission

5. Lend Lease GMP submission

6. The final design

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APRIL 2011

Design BriefDEGW develop a detailed design brief.

“This Detailed Design Brief (DDB) defines the University of Sydney and School of Physics’ detailed needs for the AIN Physics Building and has been developed through briefing workshops and interviews with specialist user groups and detailed facility walk-throughs.”

JULY 2011Architects Jessico + Wiles and CH2MHill appointed as principal design consultants (PDC).

SEPTEMBER 2011Design consultants submit a revised design brief

“this Return Detailed Design Brief will enable the design team to commence with concept design.”

APRIL 2012

Annexe decant ContinuesAfter design and refurbishment of a rented building, the Astronomers are relocated from levels 3&4 of the Annexe to Rosehill St Redfern.

JULY-SEPTEMBER 2012Some staff in the Physics building are relocated to 21 Ross St to make way for the level 3 occupants of the Annexe. L3 occupants are relocated to the Physics and Madsen buildings.

JUNE 2012New Procurement Strategy

The 2011 AIN concept design is significantly over budget.

A new procurement strategy is adopted in which two contractors will compete against each other to design a building for a “guaranteed maximum price” (GMP).

2014

Construction 2014Bulk excavation of the site and construction of retaining walls is complete. Lend Lease take possession of the site and commence construction.

2015Construction continues. The building is officially named the Sydney Nanoscience Hub, and the 300-seat lecture theatre is named the Messel Lecture Theatre.

JUNE 2015

Sydney Nanoscience Hub construction complete.

2003-2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014-2015

OCTOBER 2011

Annexe Decant commencesDecant of the Annexe commences. 3rd year lab is relocated from the Annexe to Physics building.

DECEMBER 2011

Concept (Reference) DesignUsing the detailed return brief and following several iterations, a preferred concept design is “approved in principal”, subject to an elemental cost analysis. This design will later be known as the

“Reference design”.

SEPTEMBER 2012

GMP Contractors appointed After a rigorous process, Lend Lease and Probuild are selected to competitively design and cost the AIN building using the concept design for reference.

NOVEMBER 2012

Demolition of the Annexe commences

DECEMBER 2012

Business Case 3Business case 3 developed for additional funds because “the mission of the AIN would be compromised should the GMP remain unchanged”

JANUARY 2013

Demolition of Annexe complete.

FEBRUARY 2013

Bulk Earthworks & Retaining wall construction commenceBulk excavation of the AIN site and construction of retaining walls commences

JUNE 2013

Soil Turning Ceremony“Senator The Hon Kim Carr, federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research and Minister for Higher Education, has launched building work on the site for the new Australian Institute for Nanoscience”

JULY 2013

Lend Lease appointed as main construction contractor

Lend Lease win GMP phase and are appointed as main construction contractor.

DECEMBER 2013

Bulk Earthworks & Retaining wall construction complete – LL take siteBulk excavation of the site and construction of retaining walls is complete. Lend Lease take possession of the site and commence construction.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTThanks to Nathan Apps for producing this timeline.

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The School of Physics runs and organises a number of outreach activities, of which Kickstart is the largest. Kickstart Physics is delivered to predominantly senior high school students in New South Wales, and is designed to compliment their HSC syllabus. Each workshop of 2.5 hours takes the students and their teachers through 5 experiments related to the syllabus. Kickstart has been running continuously since 2005. Attendance numbers have more than doubled since then, and in 2014 the program saw 3,605 student participants out of the approximately 10,000 students that sit the Higher School Certificate exam for Physics.

The workshops have been iteratively designed based on research and with the collaboration from the Sydney University Physics Education Research group (SUPER). Kickstart employs student tutors to assist with the delivery of the workshops.

Kickstart on the road takes the successful Kickstart program to the regional centres of Armidale, Dubbo and

Wagga Wagga. Schools travel in from up to 200 km away to take part in the program. Teachers and students are extremely enthusiastic, and the program attracts considerable press coverage. For the third year running, Kickstart on the road received a generous Social Inclusion Unit grant.

The School also runs a seven-day Physics Bridging course, an intensive introductory course for students about to start a science, engineering or medicine university degree. The lectures and tutorials effectively cover the year 11 physics syllabus.

Another School initiative is the two-day Science Teachers Workshop program which includes plenary lectures, a Nobel Lecture featuring cutting edge research and a choice of workshops. Teachers also have a chance to ‘Meet-a-Physicist’ at a poster session and attend a conference dinner event. Workshop topics include all core HSC modules as well as options including Quanta to Quarks and Medical Physics. There are new sessions on the Year 11 Syllabus and interactive lecture demonstrations. The

workshops are designed to introduce teachers to the latest research coming from the School of Physics and to provide a strong focus on the HSC syllabus.

Other outreach activities conducted by the School of Physics include: Maintenance and development of the school website including media articles, design of posters/booklets, newsletters, public science enquiries and talks including radio and TV appearances, social media including curating high profile twitter accounts, assistance with the International Science School, Sydney Ideas and Sydney Science Forum events, research with SUPER, various science faculty programs when needed, PhySoc events, work experience, Social Inclusion events such as the Indigenous student summer program, Open Day, Info Day, and conferences.

KICKSTART AND OUTREACH

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Preparations began in 2014 for the 38th Professor Harry Messel International Science School for high school students. Held in the School of Physics every two years, the ISS gathers around 140 students from across Australia and overseas for a fortnight of inspiring science talks and activities, with the primary aim of exciting their enthusiasm and promoting science as a future career.

ISS2015 will run from 28 June to 11 July and will involve students from China, India, Japan, New Zealand, Singapore, Thailand, the UK and the USA, as well as all states and territories of Australia. Since 2005 five ISS scholarships have been set aside for talented Indigenous Australian students — in 2015, we will again seek out our best Indigenous students from across the country.

Every ISS program has a theme, and next year it is BIG: big ideas, big challenges, big experiments, big science. The backbone of the ISS is the lecture series, featuring talks by leading scientists on cutting-edge research. The BIG lecture series includes:

Big Universe: cosmologist and author Professor Lawrence Krauss from Arizona State University and ANU; and Professor Greg Chamitoff, ex-NASA astronaut and

now with the University of Sydney’s School of Aerospace, Mechanical and Mechatronic Engineering

Big Ideas: Dr Anita Ho-Baillie from UNSW on high-efficiency photovoltaics and the future of solar energy; Professor Michael Roukes from Caltech, on applying nanoscience to mapping the human brain

Big Experiments: Professor Naomi McClure Griffiths from ANU on the Square Kilometre Array telescope; Dr Martin White from the University of Adelaide, on the next phase of particle physics exploration with the Large Hadron Collider; Dr Matthew Hole from ANU, on the ITER plasma fusion experiment; and Dr Stuart Prescott on the ANSTO Nuclear Reactor and applications in chemistry

Big Personality: the ever-popular Dr Karl Kruszelnicki with his Great Moments in Science.

Beyond the lecture hall, the ISS gives the students a chance to see the University’s research labs in action, mix with students and staff, and challenge their skills and knowledge. They also enjoy a rich social program, giving them an opportunity to make new friends from all over the world.

IN 2015, THE ISS IS GOING TO BE BIG!

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Abeysuriya, Romesh Postdoctoral Research Associate

Allen, James John Stocker Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Allison, James ARC Super Science Fellow

An, Honglin Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Anthony, Jessienta Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Appleby, David Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Apps, Nathan AIN Building Project Manager

Aquino, Kevin Postdoctoral Research Associate

Argyros, Alex Associate Professor

Aronen, Antti Postdoctoral Research Associate

Arriesgado, Geraldine Finance Officer

Atakaramians, Shaghik ARC DECRA Fellow

Barakat, Mohamed Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Barnes, Luke ARC Super Science Fellow

Bartlett, Stephen Professor

Bate, Nicholas Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Bedding, Timothy Professor and Head of School

Beech, David Senior Technical Operations Manager

Bell, Martin Postdoctoral Research Associate

Bendall, Louise Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Biercuk, Michael Associate Professor

Bilek, Marcela ARC Future Fellow

Blake, Sam Postdoctoral Research Associate

Bland-Hawthorn, Joss Professor

Bolejko, Krzysztof ARC Future Fellow

Borges, Goncalo CoEPP Computing Systems Administrator

Brinkel, Vera CUDOS Administration Officer

Bryant, Julia Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Burlon, Davide Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cairns, Iver Professor

Campbell-Wilson, Duncan Molonglo Observatory Manager

Carpenter, Joel Postdoctoral Research Associate

Casas-Bedoya, Alvaro Postdoctoral Research Associate

Cavalcanti, Eric ARC DECRA Fellow

Charlesworth, Jacqui CAASTRO Communications Coordinator

Chaston, Chris ARC Future Fellow

Clark, Alex ARC DECRA Fellow

Collins, Matthew Postdoctoral Research Associate

Conn, Anthony Laffan Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cragg, Michael Postdoctoral Research Associate

Croom, Scott ARC Future Fellow

Curran, Stephen Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Cvetojevic, Nick Postdoctoral Research Associate

De Deene, Yves Principal Research Fellow

de Sterke, Martijn Professor

Denniss, Phillip Technical Officer

Dey, Christopher Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Di-Masi, Lorraine Quantum Administration Officer

Doherty, Andrew Associate Professor

STAFF LIST

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Dolleiser, Marek Senior Technical Officer

Eggleton, Benjamin ARC Laureate Fellow

Elahi, Pascal Postdoctoral Research Associate

Farnes, Jamie Postdoctoral Research Associate

Farrell, Sean Postdoctoral Research Associate

Field, Matthew Postdoctoral Research Associate

Finelli, Kevin Postdoctoral Research Associate

Flammia, Steven ARC Future Fellow

Fleming, Simon Professor

Fogarty, Lisa Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Fong, Nicole Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Ford, Brian Senior Technical Officer

Ford, Shiva Outreach Project Officer

Gaebel, Torsten Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Gaensler, Bryan ARC Laureate Fellow

Ganesan, Rajesh Postdoctoral Research Associate

George, Alexis Administration Assistant

Georgiou, Helen Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Geschke, Arne Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Gong, Pulin Senior Lecturer

Gooley, Debra CAASTRO Finance Officer

Gordon, Tom Science Communicator

Green, Anne Professor

Gunn, Kate CAASTRO Chief Operating Officer

Hansen, Christian Postdoctoral Research Associate

Higginson, Emily CUDOS Administrative Officer

Huber, Daniel ARC DECRA Fellow

Hudson, Darren ARC DECRA Fellow

Hunstead, Richard Professor

Husko, Chad ARC DECRA Fellow

Huynh, Sang Human Resources Coodinator

Ioannidis, Nick Resources Officer

Jackson, Stuart Associate Professor

Jeng, Geng-Yuan Postdoctoral Research Associate

Johnston, Helen Senior Lecturer

Judge, Alexander Postdoctoral Research Associate

Juneja, Prabhjot Postdoctoral Research Associate

Juraszek, Sebastian IT Network Manager

Kabakova, Irina Postdoctoral Research Associate

Kerr, Cliff ARC DECRA Fellow

Khachan, Joseph Associate Professor

Kim, Jong-Won Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kiu, Cynthia Undergraduate Student Services Coordinator

Kobakhidze, Archil Senior Lecturer

Kocer, Cenk Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kondyurin, Alexey Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kuehn III, Charles John Stocker Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Kuhlmey, Boris Associate Professor

Kuncic, Zdenka Professor

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Kuyucak, Serdar Associate Professor

Lapine, Mikhail Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Large, Maryanne Associate Professor

Lefrancois, Simon Postdoctoral Research Associate

Lehmann, Joerg Associate Professor

Lenc, Emil Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Lenzen, Manfred Professor

Leon-Saval, Sergio Senior Lecturer

Lewis, Geraint Professor

Li, Bo Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Limosani, Antonio Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Londish, Diana CoEPP Administration Officer

Lwin, Richard Technical Officer

Manidis, Stefan Finance Officer

Marpaung, David ARC DECRA Fellow

Martin, Shelly CUDOS Centre Manager

McDonald, Kristian Postdoctoral Research Associate

McKenzie, David Professor

McLoghlan, James Postdoctoral Research Associate

McPhedran, Ross Professor

McRae, Terry Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Melrose, Don Professor

Menicucci, Nicolas ARC DECRA Fellow

Min, Seong-Sik Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Monger, Tony Computer Systems Officer

Moss, Vanessa Postdoctoral Research Associate

Murphy, Simon Postdoctoral Research Associate

Murphy, Tara Senior Lecturer

Murray, Joy Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Nand, Nitin Postdoctoral Research Associate

Napthali, Amelita Laboratory Assistant

Napthali, Barry Senior Technical Officer

Nheu, Jong School Finance Manager

Norris, Barnaby Postdoctoral Research Associate

Nosworthy, Neil Postdoctoral Research Associate

O’Brien, Aroon Postdoctoral Research Associate

O’Byrne, John Associate Professor

O’Sullivan, Shane ARC Super Science Fellow

Palomba, Stefano Senior Lecturer

Paterson, Michael Senior Technical Officer

Pavlovic, Aleks Space Physics Administration Officer

Pelusi, Mark ARC Future Fellow

Peruzzo, Alberto ARC DECRA Fellow

Pfeiffer, Terrence Senior Technical Officer

Postnova, Svetlana Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Powell, Annalee Executive Assistant to Head of School

Pracy, Michael Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Purcell, Cormac Possum Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Pyka, Karsten Postdoctoral Research Associate

Rebolledo, David Postdoctoral Research Associate

Reilly, David Professor

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Reynoso, Andres Postdoctoral Research Associate

Robinson, Peter Professor

Rogers, Linda Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Saavedra, Aldo Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Sadler, Elaine Professor

Schiotz, Susan CUDOS Administration Assistant

Schmidt, Joachim Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Schmidt, Michael Lecturer

Schroeder, Jochen ARC DECRA Fellow

Scott, Nicholas Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Shan, George Computer Systems Officer

Sharma, Manjula Associate Professor

Sharma, Sanjib Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Shrier, Oded Postdoctoral Research Associate

Sibidanov, Alexei Postdoctoral Research Associate

Smith, Michael Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Stampfl, Catherine Professor

Starkey, Elizabeth Medical Physics Administration Officer

Stello, Denis ARC DECRA Fellow

Stewart, Chris Senior Lecturer

Sullivan, Michelle CAASTRO Executive Assistant

Sun, Diana Research Administration Coordinator

Sun, Xiaohui Possum Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Sykes, Jonathan Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Temby, David Technical Officer

Tepper-Garcia, Thorsten Postdoctoral Research Associate

Teran, Eve School Administration Manager

Thwaites, David Professor

Tomamichel, Marco University of Sydney Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Tran, Thao Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Tuniz, Alessandro Postdoctoral Research Associate

Tuthill, Peter ARC Future Fellow

Tzioumis, Vicky SUPER Project Officer

Varvell, Kevin Associate Professor

Walsh, Christopher CUDOS External Relations Manager

Warschkow, Oliver ARC Senior Research Fellow

West, Wicky Quantum Grants Administration Coordinator

Wheatland, Michael Associate Professor

Williams, Kylie CAASTRO Administration Officer

Willowson, Kathy Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Wilson, Ralf Senior Technical Officer

Win, Myo Technical Officer

Wu, Lei Postdoctoral Research Associate

Xiong, Chunle Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Yabsley, Bruce ARC Future Fellow

Yang, Sue Scientific Computational Officer

Yeo, Giselle Postdoctoral Research Associate

Yin, Yongbai Senior Postdoctoral Research Fellow

Zheng, Joseph Laboratory Assistant

Zheng, Rongkun Senior Lecturer

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CRICOS 00026AABN 15 211 513 464

Produced by the School of Physics, the University of Sydney, 2015.

Front cover image: North-East corner of the new Sydney Nanoscience Hub, the University of Sydney

The University reserves the right to make alterations to any information contained within this publication without notice.

SCHOOL OF PHYSICS

School of PhysicsT +61 2 9351 3037F +61 2 9351 7726 sydney.edu.au/science/physics