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
Quantum Spectra. Fundamental quantum processes will play a key role in emerging technologies in the twenty-first century across diverse industries including quantum information technology, quantum computers and electronics, quantum optics, nanoscale quantum microscopes and superconductor technology. Australia has a strong base of expertise in the underpinning quantum disciplines. This project in strategic basic research within mathematical physics will develop a comprehensive and consistent math ....Quantum Spectra. Fundamental quantum processes will play a key role in emerging technologies in the twenty-first century across diverse industries including quantum information technology, quantum computers and electronics, quantum optics, nanoscale quantum microscopes and superconductor technology. Australia has a strong base of expertise in the underpinning quantum disciplines. This project in strategic basic research within mathematical physics will develop a comprehensive and consistent mathematical description of quantum processes. This research will lead to a deeper understanding of quantum processes, keep Australia at the leading edge of international developments and increase Australia's capacity to develop and implement these new technologies.Read moreRead less
Energy, Cosmic Censorship and Black Hole Stability. Human progress is achieved by confronting fundamental questions, at the leading edge of knowledge. This project will lead to better understanding of space-time physics, and of the properties of singular solutions of non-linear hyperbolic equations. Such equations govern a wide range of physical phenomena, including fluid flow, weather and electromagnetic fields.
Large Time Behavior of Solutions to Stochastic Partial Differential Equations. We will study equilibria of complex systems described by stochastic partial differential equations. The rates of convergence to equilibrium will be obtained for the equations driven by Gaussian and general Levy noises under physically relevant assumptions. The benefits of this project to the nation include enhancing its scientific standing in the international community, the training of Australian researchers in foref ....Large Time Behavior of Solutions to Stochastic Partial Differential Equations. We will study equilibria of complex systems described by stochastic partial differential equations. The rates of convergence to equilibrium will be obtained for the equations driven by Gaussian and general Levy noises under physically relevant assumptions. The benefits of this project to the nation include enhancing its scientific standing in the international community, the training of Australian researchers in forefront methods of mathematical analysis of complex systems and development of close ties with the world leaders in this area of research. The project will advance our understanding of complex systems arising in Phyiscs, Engineering, Social and Life Sciences, hence fits into the Priority Goal: Breakthrough Science. Read moreRead less
GEOMETRIC NUMERICAL INTEGRATION. Many scientific phenomena in physics, astronomy, and chemistry, are modelled by ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Often these equations have no solution in closed form, and one relies on numerical integration. Traditionally this is done using Runge-Kutta methods or linear multistep methods. In the last decade, however, we (and others) have discovered novel classes of so-called "geometric" numerical integration methods that preserve qualititative featur ....GEOMETRIC NUMERICAL INTEGRATION. Many scientific phenomena in physics, astronomy, and chemistry, are modelled by ordinary differential equations (ODEs). Often these equations have no solution in closed form, and one relies on numerical integration. Traditionally this is done using Runge-Kutta methods or linear multistep methods. In the last decade, however, we (and others) have discovered novel classes of so-called "geometric" numerical integration methods that preserve qualititative features of certain ODE's exactly (in contrast to traditional methods), leading to crucial stability improvements. Extending concepts from dynamical systems theory and traditional numerical ODEs, this project will improve, extend and systematize this new field of geometric integration.Read moreRead less
Western Australia severe weather prediction: optimising forecasts using new data sources and improved high-resolution models. WA suffers unusually high exposure to severe tropical and extra-tropical weather, from its size and geographical location. This project will develop enhanced data assimilation and modelling techniques, using emerging high-resolution satellite and other data to improve the timeliness, accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts for WA. Outcomes include: improved forecas ....Western Australia severe weather prediction: optimising forecasts using new data sources and improved high-resolution models. WA suffers unusually high exposure to severe tropical and extra-tropical weather, from its size and geographical location. This project will develop enhanced data assimilation and modelling techniques, using emerging high-resolution satellite and other data to improve the timeliness, accuracy and reliability of weather forecasts for WA. Outcomes include: improved forecast systems for predicting severe weather affecting WA (and consequently Australia), and ensemble forecast systems that provide valuable probabilistic information, such as confidence limits in the forecasts. Better forecasts issued earlier for severe weather events will allow appropriate planning and management measures, thereby reducing their present high social and economic cost.Read moreRead less
Geometric Integration. This project gives an important boost to Australia's strength in the niche area of geometric numerical integration,in the face of strong international competition. It gathers 7 world experts from 5 countries to create new computer programs to improve calculations in dynamics, with applications ranging from astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and meteorology to finance. It strengthens Australia's links with the mathematical software industry, and will lead to world-clas ....Geometric Integration. This project gives an important boost to Australia's strength in the niche area of geometric numerical integration,in the face of strong international competition. It gathers 7 world experts from 5 countries to create new computer programs to improve calculations in dynamics, with applications ranging from astronomy, physics, chemistry, biology, and meteorology to finance. It strengthens Australia's links with the mathematical software industry, and will lead to world-class graduates and research training.Read moreRead less
Geometric numerical integration of differential equations. Differential equations (DEs) play a central role in modelling scientific phenomena in physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geoscience. We have developed new ways of solving DEs, using geometric integration, which have significant advantages over traditional methods because of the crucial nonlinear stability they provide.
This project, combining 7 world experts from 6 countries and 1 early career researcher, will pl ....Geometric numerical integration of differential equations. Differential equations (DEs) play a central role in modelling scientific phenomena in physics, biology, chemistry, astronomy, meteorology, and geoscience. We have developed new ways of solving DEs, using geometric integration, which have significant advantages over traditional methods because of the crucial nonlinear stability they provide.
This project, combining 7 world experts from 6 countries and 1 early career researcher, will place Australia at the forefront of this intensive international activity.
It will significantly strengthen Australia's links with the mathematical software industry (e.g. Wolfram Research, Inc), and will lead to world class graduates and research training.
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Mathematical studies on the statistical properties of complex systems. Introduced in the late `50's to model nuclear spectra, random matrices are now standard in the theory of quantum chaos, mesoscopic phenomena and disordered systems. These are all examples of physical complex systems, characterized by unknown interactions leading to predictable behaviour due to symmetries. Vast mathematical structures result from the symmetries - integrable systems, Painleve equations, Macdonald polynomial the ....Mathematical studies on the statistical properties of complex systems. Introduced in the late `50's to model nuclear spectra, random matrices are now standard in the theory of quantum chaos, mesoscopic phenomena and disordered systems. These are all examples of physical complex systems, characterized by unknown interactions leading to predictable behaviour due to symmetries. Vast mathematical structures result from the symmetries - integrable systems, Painleve equations, Macdonald polynomial theory to name a few. These structures will be further developed, leading to the analytic form of distribution functions quantifying classes of complex systems. Analogous statistical quantification is the essence of recently proposed methods to analyze artificial complex systems such as the stock market.Read moreRead less
Nonlocal nonlinear waves. This project will help to maintain the status of the Laser Physics Centre as the leading group in Australia and on the international arena in the field of nonlinear optics. Innovative and original ideas of fundamental importance emanating from this project would significantly strengthen this reputation. This project will expand the existing collaboration with our Danish partners. It will have an impact on the understanding of the soliton phenomena in many diverse fields ....Nonlocal nonlinear waves. This project will help to maintain the status of the Laser Physics Centre as the leading group in Australia and on the international arena in the field of nonlinear optics. Innovative and original ideas of fundamental importance emanating from this project would significantly strengthen this reputation. This project will expand the existing collaboration with our Danish partners. It will have an impact on the understanding of the soliton phenomena in many diverse fields providing knowledge which may be subsequently transferred to practical technologies. The research will provide training and experience for post-doctorate researchers as well as graduate and undergraduate students.Read moreRead less