On the Geometry of Liquid Crystals and Biological Membranes. This project will provide fundamental insights via realistic mathematical models into two areas of technological importance in the development of certain advanced materials involving liquid crystals and biomembranes. The use of liquid crystal devices is ubiquitous in the design of optical display units. Biomembranes are of much current importance, in particular, in connection with sophisticated drug delivery systems. The design of adva ....On the Geometry of Liquid Crystals and Biological Membranes. This project will provide fundamental insights via realistic mathematical models into two areas of technological importance in the development of certain advanced materials involving liquid crystals and biomembranes. The use of liquid crystal devices is ubiquitous in the design of optical display units. Biomembranes are of much current importance, in particular, in connection with sophisticated drug delivery systems. The design of advanced `smart' materials which admit solitonic behaviour is an area at the forefront of materials science and as such is important to the continued development of an advanced technological base within Australia.Read moreRead less
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
Geometric variational problems and nonlinear partial differential systems. We will investigate several important problems on non-linear partial differential systems, bridging analysis, differential geometry and mathematical physics. Harmonic maps are the prototype of maps minimizing the Dirichlet energy. The liquid crystal configuration generalizes the harmonic map with values into two dimensional spheres. The Yang-Mills equations originated from particle physics. We will make fundamental contri ....Geometric variational problems and nonlinear partial differential systems. We will investigate several important problems on non-linear partial differential systems, bridging analysis, differential geometry and mathematical physics. Harmonic maps are the prototype of maps minimizing the Dirichlet energy. The liquid crystal configuration generalizes the harmonic map with values into two dimensional spheres. The Yang-Mills equations originated from particle physics. We will make fundamental contributions to these topics: Regularity problem and energy minimality of weakly harmonic maps, Weak solutions of the liquid crystal equilibrium system, Yang-Mills heat flow and singular Yang-Mills connections.
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