5th joint international conference on hyperfine interactions and symposium on nuclear quadrupole interactions (HFI/NQI 2014)

Abstract

These are the proceedings of the 5th Joint International Conference on Hyperfine Interactions and Symposium on Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions (HFI/NQI 2014). The conference, hosted by the University of New South Wales and the Australian National University, was held in Canberra, from 21-26 September 2014 at the spiritual home of Australian science, the uniquely designed Shine Dome of the Australian Academy of Sciences in the Australian capital. The meeting followed on from the four previous successful joint meetings in Bonn, Iguassu Falls, CERN and Beijing, and carried on an even longer conference tradition; HFI/NQI 2014 could also be termed the 17th International Conference on Hyperfine Interactions and the 21st International Symposium on Nuclear Quadrupole Interactions. The conference organisation was facilitated by a local committee containing members from both universities together with the assistance of the Consec Conference Management team and with input from the associated international advisory and program committees as detailed below. The conference, formally opened by the Chief Executive Officer of the Australian Research Council, Professor Aidan Byrne, was attended by 95 delegates and accompanying persons. As with previous meetings, the attendees travelled from all parts of the world. Not only were delegates engaged by some excellent scientific presentations, as evidenced by the contents of these proceedings, but they also experienced the pleasant surrounds of spring time in Canberra. The conference excursion to Tibinbilla nature reserve for a close up encounter with some Australian wildlife, and then to the Canberra Deep Space Communication Complex, were a particular highlight.