)
)
)
)
)PhD Projects and Scholarship
The Australian Consortium for Interferometric Gravitational Astronomy (ACIGA), in partnership with the US LIGO Laboratory, is developing technology which, for the first time, will allow gravitational wave detectors to detect known sources of gravitational waves at a frequent rate. By increasing the range of the detectors 10-folds, 1000 times as many sources will be detectable but this requires very intense laser beams to reduce the quantum shot noise in the detectors. ACIGA is a consortium of several Australian universities (UWA, ANU, University of Adelaide and others). Our projects are suitable for talented physics or engineering (both mechanical and electronic) students. You will develop skills in advanced optics, control systems, vibration isolation and precision mechanics or in gravitational astrophysics and advanced concepts in data analysis. You will be part of an exciting international quest at one of the most exciting frontiers of fundamental physics. Project work will be focused on our Gingin research facility one hour's drive from Perth, but will include work with our international partners. On completion there will be enormous opportunities to play a major role in the fast growing field of gravitational astronomy, including the development of the planned AIGO long baseline detector at Gingin, WA.
Proposed PhD projects (for 2008)
It has recently been shown that radiation pressure can be used to create stable rigid optical "rods" between suspended mirrors if two laser frequencies are used in the optical cavity. The stiffness of the optical rod can exceed the stiffness of diamond. This technique offers far reaching possibilities from optically stabilised rigid structures in space to improved low frequency sensitivity in laser interferometers. This project will explore the new techniques and test them on 80 meter high optical power cavities.
This project aims to develop a practical technique for enhancing the low frequency of laser interferometers using optical spring techniques. It is related to project (2) above, but need not use two frequencies. The goal in this project is to define a practical low frequency optical bar readout first for a single optical avity and then for an interferometer.
All high optical power cavities (except for cryogenic systems) require thermal compensation to correct the thermal wavefront distortion. An ideal system would use a closed loop between a wavefront sensor and an actuator consisting of a CO2 laser pattern on the test mass. There is considerable difficulty in creating a continuously adaptive CO2 laser beam pattern that will not introduce noise. This project will investigate various technologies for defining and creating the desired spatial intensity pattern in the laser pattern, and then design and fabricate a prototype system.
High optical power interferometers use negative thermal gradients created by laser heating to compensate for the positive thermal lensing due to absorbed power in the test masses. A negative dn/dt material allows much better compensation but there are several technical issues associated with potential compensation materials. This project will begin by assessing the performance of crystalline quartz and then assess various advanced materials which could be much superior.
At high optical power radiation pressure forces creates difficulty in locking lasers to the cavity. This project will compare experimental and theoretical lock acquisition in optical cavities as a function of stored optical power. Effects that must be allowed for include torsional instability, longitudinal radiation pressure forces and the rapid growth of parametric oscillations. The latter must be damped electrostatically or by optical feedback.
This project will involve analytic theory and Finite Element and FFT modelling of photoelastic phenomena in high optical power systems. This will be followed by experiments on depolarisation from thermal lensing and photothermal noise from laser intensity fluctuations. This has applications to Advanced Laser Interferometer gravitational wave detectors and to third generation interferometers which may use coatingless optical cavities.
This is an exciting opportunity for students to gain invaluable industry relevant experience with cutting edge signal processing and data analysis techniques. The aim is to adapt/develop an algorithm with applications for rare event prediction using time-series data. Previous work has concentrated on astronomical applications...but there are exciting new potential applications in areas as diverse as finance, industry and applied science. This project utilizes engineering/modelling software and provides an excellent foundation for both academic or industry based research.
Gamma ray bursts are one of the "hottest" research topics in modern astrophysics. Lasting anywhere from a few milliseconds to several minutes, gamma-ray bursts (GRBs) shine hundreds of times brighter than a typical supernova and about a million trillion times as bright as the Sun, making them briefly the brightest source of cosmic gamma-ray photons in the observable Universe. This project will employ recent GRB satellite and optical data with the aim of developing a more complete understanding of these enigmatic events.
For expressions of interest, please contact:
)
)
)
))Scholarships
Australian and New Zealand citizens and Australian permanent residents are legible to apply UWA post graduate Scholarship http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/home/postgrad
Application for scholarship for 2008 deadline is October 2007
International students can apply for International Postgraduate Research Scholarships (IPRS) and Scholarships for International Research Fees (SIRFs) http://www.scholarships.uwa.edu.au/home/postgrad/international/iprs
Application deadline: March and August.
Outstanding candidates in receipt of Australian Postgraduate Awards or University Postgraduate Awards may be eligible to receive supplementary scholarships. Tutoring and part-time teaching may also be available for additional income.
Academic visitors: Many of our PhD students first visit here as academic visitors. We have had students and visitors from China, India, France, Chile, Austria, Poland, Singapore, Germany, Romania and USA. Visitors usually receive living allowance equal to the value of a PhD scholarship.