Introduction

The ARC Centre of Excellence 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

Annual Report for the year 2007

Annual Report for the year 2006

Annual Report for the year 2005

Annual Report for the year 2004

Annual Report for the year 2003

Governance

Organisational chart

Centre Research Director Hans Bachor		Advisory Board International Scientific Advisory Board: Alain Aspect Keith Burnett David Pegg William Phillips Eugene Polzik National Advisory Board: Garry Humphries (Senator) Steven Duvall (Intel) Bob McMullan (MP) Bruce Whan (SUT) David Wilson (DSTO)
Centre Deputy Director Ken Baldwin Cheif Operations Officer Ruth Wilson
Executive Committee
Hans Bachor Ken Baldwin Joel Corney Peter Drummond Peter Hannaford Yuri Kivshar
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 Chief Investigators: Ken Baldwin Yuri Kivshar Elena Ostrovskaya Andrew Truscott Chief Investigators: Bryan Dalton Peter Hannaford Tien Kieu Russell McLean Wayne Rowlands Andrei Sidorv Chief Investigators: Joel Corney Matthew Davis Karen Kheruntsyan Peter Drummond Margaret Reid Administration Officer: Ruth Wilson Administration Officer: Wendy Quinn Administration Officer: Tatiana Tchernova Node Operations Manager: Stephanie Golding

While the Research Director, Hans-A. Bachor, is responsible for the overall science direction and performance, the Chief Operations Officer, Ruth Wilson, 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.

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

• Key performance indicators for 2003 extracted from the Annual Report for the year 2003.
  
  
• Key performance indicators for 2004 extracted from the Annual Report for the year 2004.
  
  
• Key performance indicators for 2005 extracted from the Annual Report for the year 2005.
  
  
• Key performance indicators for 2006 extracted from the Annual Report for the year 2006.