Moduli spaces of geometric structures. One of the most spectacular recent advances in mathematics was Perelman's resolution of Thurston's geometrisation program for three-dimensional spaces. This makes it very important to understand sets of geometric structures on such spaces, called moduli spaces. The challenge of this project is to develop practical methods to compute moduli spaces, understand their global properties, and use them to define new invariants giving insights about shape, geometry ....Moduli spaces of geometric structures. One of the most spectacular recent advances in mathematics was Perelman's resolution of Thurston's geometrisation program for three-dimensional spaces. This makes it very important to understand sets of geometric structures on such spaces, called moduli spaces. The challenge of this project is to develop practical methods to compute moduli spaces, understand their global properties, and use them to define new invariants giving insights about shape, geometry and algebra of a space. This is a key problem as moduli spaces describe whether a space is rigid or can be deformed. They are a central object in several fields of mathematics, including geometry and topology, gauge theory, dynamical systems, mathematical physics and invariant theory.Read moreRead less
Invariants, geometric and discrete structures on manifolds. This project aims to develop practical methods for finding geometric and discrete structures on manifolds in both low and high dimensions and advancing our understanding of the information that physics is providing about these spaces. Recently there have been spectacular advances in understanding 3-D spaces and the interaction between ideas in mathematical physics (quantum invariants, string theory) and such spaces. In this project, the ....Invariants, geometric and discrete structures on manifolds. This project aims to develop practical methods for finding geometric and discrete structures on manifolds in both low and high dimensions and advancing our understanding of the information that physics is providing about these spaces. Recently there have been spectacular advances in understanding 3-D spaces and the interaction between ideas in mathematical physics (quantum invariants, string theory) and such spaces. In this project, the first aim is to construct structures with good geometric properties on 3- and 4-manifolds, using triangulations. The second aim is to study combinatorial decompositions of n-manifolds, using our new technique of multisections and also searching for polyhedral metrics of non-positive curvature. The third aim is to connect quantum invariants and geometric structures, again using triangulations.Read moreRead less
Flag varieties and configuration spaces in algebra. School students learn that curves may be described by means of equations, which may therefore be solved geometrically; this is an example of the interaction of algebra and geometry. In this project geometric ideas such as simplicial geometry and cohomological representation theory will be developed, which address deep questions in modern algebra.
Generalised topological spaces. Pure mathematics creates abstractions of real-world entities; one such is the idea of a 'topological space', which abstracts from geometric forms like cubes and toruses. But topological spaces fail to capture geometric structures arising in areas like quantum physics; and this project seeks to rectify this, by developing a new more general notion.
Enriched higher category theory. At the beginning of 21st century it became clear that further progress in mathematics and physics required a development of a new powerful language, which received the name Higher Category Theory. This project is devoted to the development of this new exciting theory.
Scale-Multiplicative Semigroups and Geometry. Symmetry is treated mathematically through the algebraic concept of a group. Conversely, geometric representations play a crucial role in group theory. Many classes of groups, such as the connected groups that arise in physics, have useful geometric representations, but such a representation is lacking in the case of general disconnected groups. Certain disconnected groups, closely related in algebraic terms to the connected ones, do have a geometric ....Scale-Multiplicative Semigroups and Geometry. Symmetry is treated mathematically through the algebraic concept of a group. Conversely, geometric representations play a crucial role in group theory. Many classes of groups, such as the connected groups that arise in physics, have useful geometric representations, but such a representation is lacking in the case of general disconnected groups. Certain disconnected groups, closely related in algebraic terms to the connected ones, do have a geometric representation called a 'building'. This project aims to address the lack of a representation for general disconnected groups by extending the notion of a building to create combinatorial structures on which these groups act as symmetries.Read moreRead less
Triangulations in dimensions 3 and 4: discrete and geometric structures. Recently there have been spectacular advances in understanding 3-dimensional spaces and the interaction between ideas in mathematical physics (quantum invariants) and such spaces. This project aims at practical methods for finding geometric structures and advancing our understanding of the information that physics is providing about these spaces.
Lattices in locally compact groups. The project will investigate fundamental questions about lattices in a variety of locally compact groups, leading to a deeper understanding of basic properties, in both new settings and old. The project will develop new tools, provide new applications, link diverse areas of mathematics and strengthen international connections.
Geometric transforms and duality. This Proposal is fundamental, basic research at the forefront of modern differential geometry and its application to physics. It will ensure that Australia is involved in today's mathematical and physical advances and that we have Australian mathematicians trained to take advantage of the future benefits of these advances.