Singularities and surgery in geometric evolution equations. The analysis of geometric evolution equations is a very active area of mathematical research internationally. The applications of such systems to physical problems such as crystal growth and flame propagation are also of great interest in the broader scientific community. The proposed research addresses questions central to the understanding of curvature flows. The project will yield internationally significant results in theoretical ....Singularities and surgery in geometric evolution equations. The analysis of geometric evolution equations is a very active area of mathematical research internationally. The applications of such systems to physical problems such as crystal growth and flame propagation are also of great interest in the broader scientific community. The proposed research addresses questions central to the understanding of curvature flows. The project will yield internationally significant results in theoretical mathematics, with applications in physics, engineering and image processing. These results will enhance Australia's reputation for high quality theoretical mathematical research with real world applications.Read moreRead less
Novel geometric invariants. Quantum theory is the language of fundamental physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. Sophisticated models in condensed matter physics and string theory have exposed geometric and topological structure as basic building blocks of the theory. Issues thrown up by quantum theory are very similar to, and have provided techniques to solve, problems in the geometry of three and four dimensional manifolds. Exciting two way exchanges ....Novel geometric invariants. Quantum theory is the language of fundamental physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. Sophisticated models in condensed matter physics and string theory have exposed geometric and topological structure as basic building blocks of the theory. Issues thrown up by quantum theory are very similar to, and have provided techniques to solve, problems in the geometry of three and four dimensional manifolds. Exciting two way exchanges of methods, problems and solutions have emerged. This project aims to settle fundamental questions in the interaction between these two fields.Read moreRead less
Minimal surfaces. Recent stunning progress in topology, in particular a possible solution to one of the Clay Institute million dollar problems, using techniques from partial differential equations and minimal surfaces has made this area a hot topic. To attract researchers in this field to visit Australia and to train students in this area is a major part of this project.
3D Image segmentation and shape characterisation driven by topological persistence. Tomographic imaging is emerging as a new tool to help tackle a remarkable array of scientific challenges. What distinguishes healthy bone from that of osteoporosis sufferers? How does groundwater contamination spread? Why is a macadamia nut so hard to crack? What causes the iridescence in a butterfly wing? These are just a few of the questions being answered at tomographic facilities in Australia alone. By co ....3D Image segmentation and shape characterisation driven by topological persistence. Tomographic imaging is emerging as a new tool to help tackle a remarkable array of scientific challenges. What distinguishes healthy bone from that of osteoporosis sufferers? How does groundwater contamination spread? Why is a macadamia nut so hard to crack? What causes the iridescence in a butterfly wing? These are just a few of the questions being answered at tomographic facilities in Australia alone. By combining sophisticated mathematics with cutting edge image-processing algorithms, this project will yield a new class of topology driven image analysis techniques that will improve the accuracy and reliability of predictions made from tomographic images.Read moreRead less
Three-dimensional geometry and topology. This project will carry out important fundamental research into the geometry and topology of 3-dimensional manifolds, an area of intense activity over the last 30 years.
The work has direct applications to physics, for example recent work in cosmology aimed at determining the global structure of our universe. Our work on knotting and symmetries of molecular graphs will also be of considerable interest in chemistry and biology.
The project will also ....Three-dimensional geometry and topology. This project will carry out important fundamental research into the geometry and topology of 3-dimensional manifolds, an area of intense activity over the last 30 years.
The work has direct applications to physics, for example recent work in cosmology aimed at determining the global structure of our universe. Our work on knotting and symmetries of molecular graphs will also be of considerable interest in chemistry and biology.
The project will also provide high quality training of undergraduate and graduate students in geometry and topology, and will increase international cooperation by developing closer links with colleagues and institutions overseas.Read moreRead less
Foundations of higher dimensional homological algebra. Recent discoveries in physics and mathematics led to the understanding that classical mathematics is only 'the tip of the iceberg' of the higher-dimensional structures that are ultimately behind the laws of Nature. Australia has always been in the forefront of research in Category Theory, and due to that position, has a unique opportunity to participate in the early stages of developments of Higher Category Theory and Higher Dimensiona ....Foundations of higher dimensional homological algebra. Recent discoveries in physics and mathematics led to the understanding that classical mathematics is only 'the tip of the iceberg' of the higher-dimensional structures that are ultimately behind the laws of Nature. Australia has always been in the forefront of research in Category Theory, and due to that position, has a unique opportunity to participate in the early stages of developments of Higher Category Theory and Higher Dimensional Homological Algebra. This will allow Australia to be in the forefront of the subsequent technological development and to reap the economical, social and intellectual benefits related to it.
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Homotopy theory: interactions with representation theory and moduli spaces. This proposal will involve young researchers and train them for problem solving in many fields, including management, the sciences, the financial industries, and the development of technologies. Furthermore, many of the projects in this proposal are collaborative and interdisciplinary. It is the CI's sincere hope that this proposal can help bolster communication amongst the wealth of topology, number theory, and mathe ....Homotopy theory: interactions with representation theory and moduli spaces. This proposal will involve young researchers and train them for problem solving in many fields, including management, the sciences, the financial industries, and the development of technologies. Furthermore, many of the projects in this proposal are collaborative and interdisciplinary. It is the CI's sincere hope that this proposal can help bolster communication amongst the wealth of topology, number theory, and mathematical physics experts in Australia. The research in these exciting areas of mathematics will contribute to maintaining Australia's position as a research leader in pure mathematics.
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Geometric structures in representation theory. Mathematics underpins every aspect of people's interactions with nature (e.g. physics) and with each other (e.g. finance). Its uses range from formulating physical laws in order to understand and predict nature, to analysis of financial concepts and transactions. This project will formulate and develop three new fundamental mathematical concepts: cellular algebras, eigenspace geometries, and diagram algebras. Benefits include enhancement of Australi ....Geometric structures in representation theory. Mathematics underpins every aspect of people's interactions with nature (e.g. physics) and with each other (e.g. finance). Its uses range from formulating physical laws in order to understand and predict nature, to analysis of financial concepts and transactions. This project will formulate and develop three new fundamental mathematical concepts: cellular algebras, eigenspace geometries, and diagram algebras. Benefits include enhancement of Australia's position at the very frontier of world class mathematical research, and a myriad of potential applications to physics, coding theory, information technology, electronic security and experimental design.Read moreRead less
Categorical structures in string theory. The proposal is a contribution to the mathematics of fundamental laws of nature. Developments in string theory are unfolding internationally from top physicists and mathematicians. Basic research by our expert group of category theorists will reach out into the Australian community to varying degrees through our own teaching, vacation scholars, media interviews, and links with our academic colleagues in other disciplines. Such basic research underpins ....Categorical structures in string theory. The proposal is a contribution to the mathematics of fundamental laws of nature. Developments in string theory are unfolding internationally from top physicists and mathematicians. Basic research by our expert group of category theorists will reach out into the Australian community to varying degrees through our own teaching, vacation scholars, media interviews, and links with our academic colleagues in other disciplines. Such basic research underpins the capacity of the private sector by providing skilled graduates and enhancing the capabilities of the economy. Australia must maintain expertise in basic science and technology to be ready for uncertain future demands.Read moreRead less
Higher Line Bundles in Geometry and Physics. This project seeks to develop a theory of geometric objects, `higher line bundles', which realise elements of higher dimensional cohomology groups. In particular this project will develop a theory of differential geometry for these objects, allowing one to interpret differential forms representing cohomology classes as the `curvature' of a higher line bundle. This will have applications in quantum field theory and string/brane theory.