Physics and Astronomy
Honours research projects for 2012
Research in Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics
Astronomy research at Macquarie University falls within the Macquarie University Research Centre for Astronomy, Astrophysics and Astrophotonics. We form a highly active, rapidly growing centre of astronomical research with a current group size of about 40, including 6 faculty, 8 postdocs and 25 PhD, masters and honours students. MQ is in close proximity to both the Anglo-Australian Observatory and Australia Telescope National Facility. This has enabled the development of joint appointments creating strong links, valuable synergies and excellent opportunities for collaborations in astronomy and astronomical instrumentation/astrophotonics (which is a new emerging area at MQ). Current research strengths include: wide-field astronomy, optical, infrared and radio studies of planetary nebulae and supernova remnants, binary stars, Galactic archaeology, theoretical studies of shock-waves, star formation and black holes and astrophotonics. We also have active programs in community astronomical education and Aboriginal astronomy.
Research in Photonics
Photonics research occurs under the umbrella of the MQ Photonics Research Centre, which brings together approximately a dozen academics and over fifty postdoctoral researchers and graduate students. We perform experimental and theoretical research in guided wave photonics, laser sources, ultrafast phenomena, biophotonics and sensing, nanophotonics and plasmonics, condensed matter research and astrophotonics. Many of our projects are explicitly cross-disciplinary and designed to develop the role of photonics in communications, defence, biology, medicine and astronomy. MQPhotonics hosts a node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Ultrahigh bandwidth Devices for Optical Systems (CUDOS), which was recently renewed until 2018. It is also the coordinating node for the OptoFab component of the Australian National Fabrication Facility (ANFF).
Research in Quantum Science
Quantum science research takes place in the Research Centre for Quantum Science and Technology (QSciTech), and also involves members of the MQ Photonics Research Centre. Our theoretical research interests include quantum information and computing, circuit-based quantum electrodynamics, nonlinear quantum optics and quantum gravity. In addition, we have experimental programs in quantum plasmonics, nanodiamond physics and integrated photonics. From 2011, we are hosting a major node of the Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Engineered Quantum Systems (EQuS).
News
Success for 2009 Honours student
2009 Honours Astronomy student Ms Madusha Gunawardhana has been awarded the 2009 Bock prize for the best Astronomy Honours project in Australia.
Madusha's thesis "Constraints on the Evolution of the Stellar Initial Mass Function", which also earned her the University Medal, concerned a new approach to understanding the distribution of star masses in galaxies.
Congratulations Madusha!