Introduction
The Australian Centre for Quantum-Atom Optics (ACQAO) combines pre-eminent Australian theoretical and experimental research groups in quantum and atom optics. Our aim is to create a powerful network to advance the rapidly developing field of Quantum-Atom Optics.
We are exploiting the quantum nature of multiple particle quantum states of atoms and photons, including entangled light and Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC). The Centre focuses on fundamental research, but our long term goal is to underpin and develop the next generation quantum technology.
ACQAO has strong international links with our collaborating partner institutions in New Zealand (University of Auckland, and the University of Otago in Dunedin) as well as in Europe (Imperial College London, University of Hannover, University of Erlangen, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, and the Laboratoire Kastler-Brossel in Paris). We have also joined with the Institut d'Optique in Orsay, France and the University of Hannover, Germany to hold a tripartite series of quantum atom-optics workshops in our three countries.

The Centre has been made possible by generous funding for 2003-7 from the Australian Research Council, ACT Government, Queensland State Government, as well as cash and in-kind contributions from the university nodes of the Centre at The Australian National University (ANU), Swinburne University of Technology (SUT) and The University of Queensland (UQ).
Annual Reports
Governance
Organisational chart
Centre Research Director
Hans Bachor
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Advisory Board |
International Scientific Advisory Board:
- Prof. Alain Aspect, Institut, d ’Optique, Palaiseau,
France
- Prof. Keith Burnett, Vice-Chancellor, University of
Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Prof. William Phillips, Nobel laureate, National Institute
of Standards and Technology (NIST), Maryland, USA.
- Prof. Eugene Polzik, Niels Bohr Institute,
Copenhagen, Denmark.
National Advisory Board:
- Prof. Lawrence Cram, Deputy Vice-Chancellor,
Australian National University.
- Dr Mark Dransfield, Chief Geophysicist,
Fugro Airborne Surveys Pty Ltd.
- Dr Steven Duvall, Technology Consultant.
- Dr Peter Fisk, Acting Chief Executive and Chief
Metrologist, National Measurement Institute (NMI),
Department of Innovation, Industry, Science
and Research.
- Dr Warren Marwood, Deputy Chief Defence Scientist
(Information and Weapons Systems), Defence
Science Technology Organisation (DSTO).
- Dr Bruce Whan, Director, Swinburne Knowledge,
Swinburne University of Technology.
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Centre Deputy Director
Ken Baldwin |
Cheif Operations Officer
Damien Hughes |
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Executive Committee |
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Hans
Bachor |
Ken
Baldwin |
Joel
Corney |
Peter
Drummond |
Peter
Hannaford |
Yuri
Kivshar |
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ACQAO Nodes |
ANU Faculties
Node Director:
Hans Bachor |
ANU IAS
Node Director:
Ken Baldwin |
SUT
Node Director:
Peter Hannaford |
UQ
Node Director:
Joel Corney |
Chief Investigators:
Hans Bachor
Ping Koy Lam
John Close
Joe Hope
Craig Savage
Ben Buchler
Nicholas Robins |
Chief Investigators:
Ken Baldwin
Yuri Kivshar
Elena Ostrovskaya
Andrew Truscott |
Chief Investigators:
Bryan Dalton
Peter Hannaford
Russell McLean
Wayne Rowlands
Andrei Sidorv
Peter Drummond
Margaret Reid
Chris Vale
Brenton Hall |
Chief Investigators:
Joel Corney
Matthew Davis
Karen Kheruntsyan
Murray Olsen |
Administration Officer:
Damien Hughes |
Administration Officer:
Kathy Hicks |
Administration Officer:
Tatiana Tchernova |
Node Operations Manager:
Stephanie Golding |
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While the Research Director, Hans-A. Bachor, is responsible for the overall science direction and performance, the Chief Operations Officer, Damien Hughes, is responsible for the financial administration and all operational aspects. The fundamental decisions in the Centre are determined by all Chief Investigators together.
This is achieved in bi-annual CI meetings
(Coolum 6/2004, Canberra 12/2004). The
ongoing administration is supervised by the
Executive Committee, which meets four times
a year. Node Directors are responsible for the
continuous operation of the four nodes. Regular
science meetings are held fortnightly within the
nodes and we hold, given by demand, scientific
discussions, brainstorming sessions and
discussions which bring together members of
the Centre from all locations (Canberra 3/2004,
Coolum 6/2004, Kioloa 12/2004).
The daily administrative work is carried out by the COO
and the administrative assistants at SUT, UQ and the IAS.
The financial status and science progress are reported to
the COO and Research Director on a quarterly basis via
the Node Directors.
Centre Management Meetings |
CI meeting |
All CIs & COO |
Bi-annual |
6/04 Coolum
12/04 Canberra
4/05 Melbourne
12/05 Canberra
5/06 Brisbane
12/06 Brisbane
05/07 Caloundra
12/07 Wollongong
05/08 Canberra
11/08 Lorne
6/09 Canberra
12/09 Adelaide |
Executive Committee |
Res Dir. & COO Node Directors |
quarterly |
1/04 Canberra
4/04 Canberra
10/04 Melbourne
4/05 Video
3/06 Video
1/08 Canberra
4/08 Canberra
6/08 Canberra
9/08 Canberra
03/09 Video
07/09 Video
09/09 Video
11/09 Video |
Advisory Board |
International & national members |
annually |
12/04 Canberra
13/02/2006
12/07 Wollongong
05/08 Canberra
05/09 Int. Video
07/09
Canberra |
International Workshop |
Centre & partners, other AUS groups |
Bi-annual |
02/03 Caloundra
12/04 Kioloa
02/05 Les Houches
11/05 Queenstown
02/06 Canberra & Kioloa
12/06 Brisbane
05/07 caloundra
12/07 Wollongong
09/08 Beijing 11/08 Lorne
02/09 Les Houches
12/09 Adelaide |
Individual Project & group |
Staff & students, visitors |
fortnightly |
Across the Nodes |
IP committee |
Node directors, Universities |
annually |
4/06 phone conference
05/08 Canberra |
We are fortunate to have an advisory board of exquisite
expertise. Our international science advisors are world
leaders in the field and highly distinguished scientists, including a Nobel laureate Professor William Phillips. They have visited us twice and provide us with detailed scientific advice for all aspects of the Centre. Our national board members provide expertise in
liaising with the Australian public and potential end-users
of our research.
Prof Keith Burnett, Prof Alain Aspect, Prof William Phillips, Prof David Pegg
Funding
Total ACQAO Income in 2006: $4,528,692

Note : The Queensland State Government funding for 2003, 2004, 2005 was forwarded in one total payment of $450,000 during the year 2005.
Performance
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