FLEET News
FLEET’s Eli Estrecho recently finished his PhD, and is now a postdoctoral researcher, working with Professor Elena Ostrovskaya in the Polariton-BEC Research Group, Australian National University. We asked Eli some questions about his research, how he got into physics, and the thrill of fundamental discoveries. Q: Tell me about your research at ANU EE: I study hybrid particles of light …
FLEET researchers have designed a rapid nano-filter that can clean dirty water over 100 times faster than current technology. Simple to make and simple to scale up, the technology harnesses naturally occurring nano-structures of aluminium hydroxide that grow on liquid metal gallium. The researchers behind the innovation at RMIT University and UNSW have shown it can filter both heavy metals …
Scaling symmetry in a 2D Fermi gas breaks down with strong interactions between particles Quantum gas studies unlock fundamental physics—with an immediate application A FLEET study of ultracold atomic gases – a billionth the temperature of outer space – unlocks new, fundamental quantum effects. The researchers at Swinburne University of Technology studied collective oscillations in ultracold atomic gases – identifying …
The discovery of new ferroelectric properties in the novel, layered material Indium(III) selenide (β’-In2Se3) enhances this material’s candidacy for non-volatile memory and low-power electronic and optoelectronic switches. FLEET researchers at Monash University and UNSW were on the Australian-Chinese team that confirmed in-plane ferroelectricity in the material, β’-phase In2Se3. In2Se3 belongs to a class of layered materials known as van der Waals …
First ever large-scale 2D surface deposition of piezoelectric material Simple, inexpensive technique opens new fields for piezo-sensors & energy harvesting Researchers have developed a revolutionary method to ‘print’ large-scale sheets of two dimensional piezoelectric material, opening new opportunities for piezo-sensors and energy harvesting. Importantly, the inexpensive process allows the integration of piezoelectric components directly onto silicon chips. Until now, no …
A super-cooled, superconducting Mobius-track impresses the crowds, helps embed FLEET science As a cool science demo, FLEET’s superconductor Mobius track ticks all the boxes: liquid nitrogen – tick. Superconductor – tick. Cool shape – tick. Relevance to the science – tick tick tick. The track features 1500 neodymium magnets, fixed into the shape of a Mobius strip, so that a …
We are extremely pleased to announce two new FLEET partners. The Beijing Computational Science Research Center (CSRC) and Wroclaw University of Science and Technology have joined the 13 other leading Australian and international science organisations partnering with FLEET. Wroclaw University of Science and Technology (WUST) is Poland’s top-ranked new-technology university, excelling in computer science, electronics and materials science. Our new Partner …
Controlling hole spin for future quantum spin-based devices, topological materials The ‘spins’ of electrons (and holes) in semiconductors have potential applications in spintronics, spin-based quantum computing, and topological systems. A particle’s spin is its intrinsic angular momentum. In a magnetic field, the spins of electrons or holes becomes oriented either parallel (‘spin-up’) or anti-parallel (‘spin-down’) to the field direction – just …
Hole-based artificial atoms could be key to spin-based qubit First isolation of one individual hole in a silicon MOSFET quantum dot A UNSW study published this week resolves key challenges in creation of hole-based artificial atoms, with excellent potential for more-stable, faster, more scalable quantum computing. Artificial atoms in quantum computing The spin states of electrons confined to semiconductor quantum …
Exciting new states of quantum matter enlisted to important environmental challenges FLEET’s Harley Scammell’s outstanding PhD recognised by UNSW The thesis “Interplay of quantum and statistical fluctuations in critical quantum matter” will be published by Springer in hardcover and ebook. “It’s really great to have this research recognised by UNSW”, says Harley. “Hopefully, having the thesis published at Springer will make this …
New materials inspired by nature could be key to future electronics Self-assembled nanostructures have atomically-precise structure and tailored electronic properties Bio organisms are the most-complex machines we know, and are capable of achieving demanding functions with great efficiency. A common theme in these bio-machines is that everything important happens at the level of single molecules – that is, at the …
Congratulations to FLEET’s Kourosh Kalantar-Zadeh — named an Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow today. Kourosh’s significant influences in engineering include two-dimensional (2D) transition metal compounds, liquid metals, microfluidics, sensors, electronic devices and medical systems. He is an expert in chemical and biochemical sensors, nanotechnology, microsystems, materials science, electronics, gastroenterology, medical devices and microfluidics, and has made internationally-recognised contributions to the …
Outstanding problem in exciton-polariton physics resolved using exceptional points at ANU Chirality of mode at EP opens future research avenues for exciton-polariton physics Researchers at ANU recently proved a novel method for generating orbital angular momentum states (vortices), with a topological charge that is ensured by an exceptional point. Recent studies at the ANU resolve an outstanding problem in exciton-polariton …
Why 2D? What is it about two-dimensional materials that makes them so interesting for FLEET? FLEET UNSW/Wollongong collaboration finds transition point from 3D to 2D properties Constraining the movement of charge carriers (electrons or holes) to two dimensions unlocks unusual quantum properties, resulting in useful electronic properties. Although we refer to the layers within such materials as ‘2D’, they are …
Taking a multiband approach explains ‘electron-hole reverse drag’ and exciton formation Mystifying experimental results obtained independently by two research groups in the USA seemed to show coupled holes and electrons moving in the opposite direction to theory. Now, a new theoretical study has explained the previously mysterious result, by showing that this apparently contradictory phenomenon is associated with the bandgap …