JCU > Research Portfolio > Prof Ron White

About

Ron White is Node Director and Chief Investigator in the ARC Centre of Excellence for Antimatter-Matter Studies (CAMS). He is Theme 3 Leader within CAMS focussed on the application of positrons in biology and medicine.

More broadly Ron White's group is focussed on the modelling and simulation of non-equilibrium transport processes of charged particles in gases, soft-condensed and disordered materials.

Ron is also a member of the Rapid Assessment Joint Venture between JCU and DAAF (formerly Department of Primary Industries) focussed on the non-invasive assessment of food qualilty and security.

Teaching

BM5002: Professional Placement 2 Part 2 of 2 (Level 5; TSV)
PH1005: Advanced Stream Physics 1 (Level 1; TSV)
PH1007: Advanced Stream Physics 2 (Level 1; TSV)
PH2002: Classical Mechanics and Quantum Physics 1 (Level 2; TSV)
PH2240: Atomic and Nuclear Physics (Level 2; TSV)
PH3008: Statistical Mechanics and Transport (Level 3; TSV)
PH5010: Directed Study (Level 5; TSV)
PH5020: Special Study A (Level 5; TSV)
PH5021: Special Study B (Level 5; TSV)
PH5022: Special Study C (Level 5; TSV)

Interests

Research

Charge transport in organic materials for application in organic opto-electronics and organic solar cells.
Modelling of Positron Emission Tomography
Modelling radiation damage from ionizing radiation
Low-temperature plasma discharge modelling and plasma accelerators
Swarm physics
NIR spectroscopy for food quality and security

Research Disciplines

Socio-Economic Objectives

Publications

These are the most recent publications associated with this author. To see a detailed profile of all publications stored at JCU, visit ResearchOnline@JCU. Hover over Altmetrics badges to see social impact.

Journal Articles

Sanderson S, Philippa B, Vamvounis G, Burn P and White R (2019) Understanding charge transport in Ir(ppy)₃:CBP OLED films. Journal of Chemical Physics, 150 (9).
Garland N, Boyle G, Cocks D and White R (2018) Approximating the nonlinear density dependence of electron transport coefficients and scattering rates across the gas–liquid interface. Plasma Sources Science and Technology, 27.
Jones D, da Costa R, Kossoski F, Varella M, Bettega M, Garcia G, Blanco F, White R, Lima M and Brunger M (2018) Integral elastic, vibrational-excitation, electronic-state excitation, ionization, and total cross sections for electron scattering from para-benzoquinone. Journal of Chemical Physics, 148 (20).
Jones D, da Costa R, Kossoski F, Varella M, Bettega M, Ferreira da Silva F, Limão-Vieira P, Garcia G, Lima M, White R and Brunger M (2018) Electron-impact electronic-state excitation of para-benzoquinone. Journal of Chemical Physics, 148 (12).
Konovalov D, Saleh A, Domingos J, White R and Jerry D (2018) Estimating mass of harvested Asian seabass Lates calcarifer from images. World Journal of Engineering and Technology, 6 (3). pp. 15-23
Lozano A, Oller J, Jones D, da Costa R, Varella M, Bettega M, Ferreira da Silva F, Limao-Vieira P, Lima M, White R, Brunger M, Blanco F, Muñoz A and Garcia G (2018) Total electron scattering cross sections from para-benzoquinone in the energy range 1-200 eV. Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics, 20 (34). pp. 22368-22378
McEachran R, Blanco F, Garcia G, Stokes P, White R and Brunger M (2018) Integral cross sections for electron-magnesium scattering over a broad energy range (0-5000 eV). Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, 47 (4).
Sexton J, Everingham Y, Donald D, Staunton S and White R (2018) A comparison of non-linear regression methods for improved on-line near infrared spectroscopic analysis of a sugarcane quality measure. Journal of Near Infrared Spectroscopy, 26 (5). pp. 297-310
Stevens D, Babij T, Machacek J, Buckman S, Brunger M, White R, Garcia G, Blanco F, Ellis-Gibbings L and Sullivan J (2018) Positron scattering from pyridine. Journal of Chemical Physics, 148 (14).
Stokes P, Simonović I, Philippa B, Cocks D, Dujko S and White R (2018) Third-order transport coefficients for localised and delocalised charged-particle transport. Scientific Reports, 8.

Conference Papers

Konovalov D, Domingos J, White R and Jerry D (2018) Automatic scaling of fish images. Proceedings of the 2nd International Conference on Advances in Image Processing. In: ICAIP 18: 2nd International Conference on Advances in Image Processing, 16-18 June 2018, Chengdu, China
Sexton J, Everingham Y, Donald D, Staunton S and White R (2018) A feasibility test for detection of atypical cane samples using near infrared spectroscopy. Proceedings of the 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists. In: ASSCT 2018: 40th Annual Conference of the Australian Society of Sugar Cane Technologists, 17-20 April 2018, Mackay, QLD, Australia

More: ResearchOnline@JCU stores 159+ research outputs authored by Prof Ron White from 2000 onwards.

Current Funding

Current and recent Research Funding to JCU is shown by funding source and project.

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Positrons in biosystems

Indicative Funding: $185,090 over 2 years (administered by Australian National University)
Summary: This project aims to improve our understanding of the damage processes in Positron Emission Tomography (PET). PET is a widely used medical imaging technique, but there are gaps in our understanding of the underlying interactions, in particular in the case of the radiation damage induced during the process. By using new models incorporating accurate descriptions of interactions processes, verified by experimental measurement, this project will develop a new model of positron transport in PET. The project will allow validation of predictions from the model by undertaking experiments in liquid water.
Investigators: James Sullivan, Ron White, Michael Brunger, Daniel Cocks and Joshua Machacek in collaboration with Gustavo Garcia and Jimena Gorfinkiel (Australian National University, College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University, Spanish National Research Council and The Open University (UK))
Keywords: positrons; Transport; biological matter

CRC for Developing Northern Australia Scheme - Projects

Applying new technologies to enhance biosecurity and cattle quality

Indicative Funding: $1,084,500 over 3 years (administered by Branir Pty Ltd & Trustee for Booloomani Unit Trust)
Summary: The vast natural environment of Northern Australia feeds the cattle industry; however, biosecurity threats have negatively impacted this. Conventional management of such threats such as weeds are not suited to such broad, harsh landscapes. The project will use an Internet of Things network with low-cost environmental sensors, drone mapping and big data analytics to develop and test data-driven, strategic pest management programs - ultimately improving both cattle industry and natural assets.
Investigators: Ian Atkinson, Wei Xiang, Ron White, Stephanie Duce, Mohan Jacob and Karen Joyce (Research Infrastructure and College of Science & Engineering)
Keywords: Biosecurity; Cattle; Drones; Weeds; Technology; Internet Of Things

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Electron scattering and transport for plasma-liquid interactions

Indicative Funding: $595,120 over 3 years
Summary: The project addresses the emerging technologies associated with the interaction of plasmas with liquids and biological matter, including plasma medicine. The project expects to generate new knowledge on the role of electron-induced processes through the development of complete and accurate sets of microscopic cross- sections for electrons with biomolecules within tissue. This microscopic data will inform new microscopic models for non equilibrium electron transport in liquids and biological matter, and its coupling to plasmas. The expected outcomes of this project include progress towards the optimization of safety/efficacy of future generation plasma medicine devices through detailed understanding of plasma-biological tissue interactions.
Investigators: Ron White and Michael Brunger in collaboration with Zoran Petrovic and Jaime de Urquijo (College of Science & Engineering, Flinders University, Univerzitet u Beogradu and Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico)
Keywords: plasma medicine; Transport Theory; scattering

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - National Landcare Programme

Applying new image recognition techniques for automatic detection and spraying of Harrisia cactus

Indicative Funding: $50,000
Summary: harrisia cactus is a significant rangeland weed in Queensland and bnorthern NSW. It competes against native species, inhibits stock accdess and endangers wildlife. JCU have developed image recognition software to identify Harrisia cactus in pasture; which has been deployed on a prototype robotic platform for selective spot spraying. This proect will see the development of a new spraying unit incorporating JCU's developed technology with a vehicle provided by Warrakirri Cropping. The unit will then be used to treat 500 ha of infested pasture at Warrakirri's "Willaroo" property. Its performance will be compared to traditional methods and showcased to local landholders.
Investigators: Brendan Calvert, Ron White and James Whinney in collaboration with Bill Manning and Matt West (College of Science & Engineering, North West Local Land Services and Warakirri Cropping)
Keywords: weed control; Harrisia cactus (sp.); deep learning; Robotics

Department of Agriculture and Water Resources - Control Tools and Technologies for Established Pest Animals and Weeds Programme

Improving the accuracy of weed killing robots with new image processing algorithms and near infra-red spectroscopy techniques

Indicative Funding: $271,772 over 3 years
Summary: Automated weed species recognition remains a major obstacle to the development and industry acceptance of robotic weed control technology. Particular problems occur in rangeland applications, including high light variability and weed-camera distance variability, which cause camera dynamic range problems, image blurring, and occlusion by other plants. This project aims to develop robust image recognition systems combined with Near Infra-Red spectroscopic methods for these complex rangeland environments with special emphasis on the broad-acre grazing pastures in North Queensland. The developed imaging systems will be suitable for all weed killing applications with particular emphasis given to foliar spot-spraying and Herbicide Ballistic Technologies.
Investigators: Ron White, Bronson Philippa, Alex Olsen and Owen Kenny in collaboration with Brett Wedding, Michael Graham, Carole Wright and Stephen Grauf (College of Science & Engineering, QLD Department of Agriculture and Fisheries and Forestry)
Keywords: Weed; Near-Infra-Red; Robotics; Image Analysis

Australian Research Council - Discovery - Projects

Positron Nano-Dosimetry: Fundamental Measurements of Positron Interactions and their use in State-of-the-Art Modelling of Positron Transport

Indicative Funding: $161,667 over 3 years (administered by ANU)
Summary: This proposal will provide unique experimental and theoretical information on how positrons - the electron antiparticle - interact with matter, in particular with biologically important molecules. This data will be used in a unique set of modelling approaches which will provide, for the first time, an insight into how positrons are transported through gases, liquids and ultimately, soft matter. It will thus have important ramifications for diagnostic tools such as Positron Emission Tomography. The fundamental research will also shed light on one of the key 'mysteries' of life - why the biological building blocks of life possess a definite "handedness", or chirality.
Investigators: Stephen Buckman, Michael Brunger and Ron White in collaboration with Gustavo Garcia and Zoran Petrovic (Australian National University, Flinders University, College of Science & Engineering, Spanish National Research Council and Univerzitet u Beogradu)
Keywords: Positron; Positron Emission Tomography; Monte Carlo Modelling

Supervision

Advisory Accreditation: I can be on your Advisory Panel as a Primary or Secondary Advisor.

These Higher Degree Research projects are either current or by students who have completed their studies within the past 5 years at JCU. Linked titles show theses available within ResearchOnline@JCU.

Current

Thermal Conductivity of Low-dimensional Out-of-equilibrium Quantum Systems: Theoretically Describing Thermal Transport in Semiconductor Nanowires. (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Quantum Theory of Electromigration of Nano-Scale Electronic Devices (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Monte Carlo simulation of highly non-equilibrium electron and ion transport in plasma medicine. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
An Extensive Investigation of the Ir92 Flexisource, TG186 Report and Collapsed Cone Convolution/Superposition Algorithm for Use Brachytherapy. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Towards Nanodosimetry: Low-Energy Electron Processes and Transport in Biological Tissue (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Improving Weed Species Detection for Robotic Weed Control (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Monte-Carlo Modelling of Charge Transport in Heterogeneous Organic Semiconductors (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Modelling of Radiation Secondary Elecgtron Transport and Damage in Human Tissue. (PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
Data Mining Algorithms for Optimising Analysis of Spectroscopic Data from on-line NIR Mill Systems: Improving System Calibrations for Quality Measures. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Surface Modification of Elium Polymer using Atmospheric Plasma (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Synthesis and device characterisation of polymers for solar cells. (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Single-Molecule Junctions: Electronic Transport and Beyond (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Graphene based supercapacitors from renewable sources (PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Distribution of waiting times for individual electron tunnelling events in nanoscale quantum transport (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Seasonal water transports in Ambon Bay of eastern Indonesia and their influences on marine pollution (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Smart Organic Solar Cell Windows using Photochromic Materials: Theory and Experiment (PhD , Secondary Advisor/AM)
Time-Dependent Quantum Transport in Molecular Junctions (PhD , Secondary Advisor)

Completed

Dark matter relic abundance in non-standard cosmological scenarios (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Turbidity and light attenuation in coastal waters of the Great Barrier Reef (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Local feature analysis using higher-order Riesz transforms (2016, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Spatial and temporal water quality changes during a large scale dredging operation (2017, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Anomalous charged-particle transport in organic and soft-condensed matter (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Biomechanical analysis of hammer throwing: assessment of speed development (2014, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Electron transport modeling in gas and liquid media for application in plasma medicine (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)
The modelling of non-equilibrium light lepton transport in gases and liquids (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Charge transport in organic solar cells (2015, PhD , Primary Advisor)
Quasi-analytical modelling of advective-diffusive transport in porous media (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
Synthesis and characterization of plasma polymer thin films from γ-terpinene for encapsulation of electronic devices (2015, PhD , Secondary Advisor)
The non-invasive assessment of avocado maturity and quality (2018, PhD , Primary Advisor/AM/Adv)

Collaboration

The map shows research collaborations by institution from the past 7 years.
Note: Map points are indicative of the countries or states that institutions are associated with.