Project Overview

The 21-cm spectral line is a powerful tracer of neutral gas in the early Universe and will provide novel measurements of the Epoch of Reionisation (EoR). Measurements of this line in absorption against individual, bright, distant radio sources can provide measurements of distribution of the neutral hydrogen gas both in-situ and along the line of sight. These numerous absorption lines are referred to as the `21-cm forest'. With powerful radio sources now being found up to and within the EoR, such observations have become feasible with the Square Kilometre Array (SKA) and its precursors.

Aims

This project will use deep observations from the Murchison Widefield Array (MWA) to develop a novel pipeline to make wide-area spectral observations from low-frequency aperture array radio telescope data. This pipeline will test new algorithms, data formats and workflow containers and then apply it to real data and ultimately to data from the SKA.

Objectives

The objectives of this project would be:  
- develop software to create wide-field spectral line observations from low-frequency aperture array radio telescopes, 
- test the software on deep, wide-field MWA observations,  
- detect or constrain the amount of neutral hydrogen in a sample of high-redshift galaxies and  
- apply this new software to SKA commissioning and early science observations.

Significance 

The formation and evolution of the first galaxies is a key question in astrophysics and neutral hydrogen is the fuel for their growth. The 21-cm forest can probe the neutral hydrogen density power spectrum on smaller scales than any other method and is a unique probe of the heating process and thermal history of the Universe. This project would also provide a key benchmark to SKA commissioning and early science observations in addition to providing novel science from the MWA.

The project will be hosted at CIRA, the Curtin University node of the International Centre for Radio Astronomy Research (ICRAR) - a joint venture with the University of Western Australia supported by the Western Australian State government. As such the successful candidate will be in a vibrant research environment with over 200 staff and students across the two ICRAR nodes working on a wide range of science, engineering and high-performance computing in the fields of radio astronomy, statistics and data science. 

Support for development of efficient code will come from the Australian SKA Regional Centre via co-supervisor Dr Jordan Colliar. Co-supervisor Dr Jess Broderick works just across the road from CIRA at the SKA Observatory allowing easy collaboration. 

On top of the standard University support for computing and travel, additional resources from ICRAR for these activities may be available if required. In particular, we typically send PhD students to the annual scientific meeting of the Astronomical Society of Australia to present their work, participate in training opportunities, and to network with their peers and more senior astronomers from around Australia. Furthermore, extra resources will be available if an industry internship is undertaken.

An internship may be available for this project. This project includes the option of an industry internship with co-supervisor Dr Jess Broderick at the SKA Observatory.

• Future Students

• Faculty of Science & Engineering
  • Science courses
  • Engineering courses

• Higher Degree by Research

• Australian Citizen
• Australian Permanent Resident
• New Zealand Citizen
• Permanent Humanitarian Visa
• International Student

• Merit Based

The annual scholarship package, covering both stipend and tuition fees, amounts to approximately $70,000 per year.

In 2024, the RTP stipend scholarship offers $35,000 per annum for a duration of up to three years. Exceptional progress and adherence to timelines may qualify students for a six-month completion scholarship.

Selection for these scholarships involves a competitive process, with shortlisted applicants notified of outcomes by November 2024.

1

All applicable HDR courses.

We are looking for a self-motivated PhD candidate with excellent organisation, problem-solving and project management skills. Candidates with strong quantitative skills, including familiarity with python and radio astronomy are desired for this project. Must be eligible to enrol in PhD programs at Curtin.

 

Please send your CV, academic transcripts and brief rationale why you want to join this research project via the HDR expression of interest form to the project lead researcher, listed below. 

You must be enrolled in a Higher Degree by Research Course at Curtin University by March 2025.

Project Lead: Dr Nick Seymour