The Ricci curvature of homogeneous spaces. The geometry of homogeneous spaces is an area of research with applications in numerous fields, including topology, harmonic analysis, relativity and quantum theory. This project aims to resolve a fundamental problem in this area, known as the prescribed Ricci curvature problem for homogeneous metrics, and to settle the important and closely related question of Ricci iteration existence and convergence. Moreover, the project aims to exploit the interpla ....The Ricci curvature of homogeneous spaces. The geometry of homogeneous spaces is an area of research with applications in numerous fields, including topology, harmonic analysis, relativity and quantum theory. This project aims to resolve a fundamental problem in this area, known as the prescribed Ricci curvature problem for homogeneous metrics, and to settle the important and closely related question of Ricci iteration existence and convergence. Moreover, the project aims to exploit the interplay between geometry and algebra to provide new insight into the physically significant problem of classifying unitary Lie algebra representations. This project is expected to facilitate interdisciplinary interaction leading to exciting developments across a range of fields.Read moreRead less
Lie superalgebra representations: a geometric approach. The concept of a Lie group provides a mathematical underpinning for the idea of symmetry in mathematics, physics and chemistry. The project aims to advance two fundamental problems related to this concept: classification of unitary representations of Lie superalgebras, and the prescribed Ricci curvature problem on Lie groups. The research builds on newly-discovered connections between these problems to achieve exciting progress in their res ....Lie superalgebra representations: a geometric approach. The concept of a Lie group provides a mathematical underpinning for the idea of symmetry in mathematics, physics and chemistry. The project aims to advance two fundamental problems related to this concept: classification of unitary representations of Lie superalgebras, and the prescribed Ricci curvature problem on Lie groups. The research builds on newly-discovered connections between these problems to achieve exciting progress in their resolution. Outcomes are expected to find applications across a range of fields, such as condensed matter physics, particle physics, quantum field theory and knot theory. Anticipated benefits include stronger links between different areas of science achieved through a deeper understanding of symmetry.Read moreRead less
Connections in low-dimensional topology. This project aims to resolve important open questions in low-dimensional topology, by connecting hyperbolic geometry to invariants arising from quantum topology, cluster algebras, and spinors.
The spaces studied in this project, namely 3-manifolds and knots, arise in applications across engineering and science. The project expects to generate new insights into these spaces by applying tools connecting them to hyperbolic geometry.
Expected outcomes inclu ....Connections in low-dimensional topology. This project aims to resolve important open questions in low-dimensional topology, by connecting hyperbolic geometry to invariants arising from quantum topology, cluster algebras, and spinors.
The spaces studied in this project, namely 3-manifolds and knots, arise in applications across engineering and science. The project expects to generate new insights into these spaces by applying tools connecting them to hyperbolic geometry.
Expected outcomes include efficient techniques to compute important data about 3-manifolds and knots, particularly certain polynomials encoding geometry, and exact calculations of circle packings.
This should provide significant benefits, such as progress on difficult conjectures in hyperbolic geometry.
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Quadratic fusion categories: A frontier in subfactor theory. This project aims to investigate the quantum symmetries of the quadratic fusion categories. Fusion categories are mathematical structures that generalise the symmetries of finite groups. These structures arise as invariants of subfactors in operator algebras and in mathematical models of conformal field theory. The quadratic fusion categories encompass most known subfactors that do not come from finite or quantum groups and form a vast ....Quadratic fusion categories: A frontier in subfactor theory. This project aims to investigate the quantum symmetries of the quadratic fusion categories. Fusion categories are mathematical structures that generalise the symmetries of finite groups. These structures arise as invariants of subfactors in operator algebras and in mathematical models of conformal field theory. The quadratic fusion categories encompass most known subfactors that do not come from finite or quantum groups and form a vast frontier about which little is known. By uncovering the symmetries of the quadratic fusion categories, the project will advance subfactor theory and provide new models for conformal field theory. Progress in these fields will have applications to the emerging technology of quantum computing.Read moreRead less
Proving the Landau-Ginzburg/Conformal Field Theory correspondence. This project aims to provide the first precise mathematical statement and geometric proof of the Landau-Ginzburg/Conformal Field Theory (LG/CFT) correspondence for simple singularities, a physically motivated principle that relates hypersurface singularities in algebraic geometry to representations of vertex algebras in conformal field theory. The formalism developed here is expected to clarify the nature of the correspondence an ....Proving the Landau-Ginzburg/Conformal Field Theory correspondence. This project aims to provide the first precise mathematical statement and geometric proof of the Landau-Ginzburg/Conformal Field Theory (LG/CFT) correspondence for simple singularities, a physically motivated principle that relates hypersurface singularities in algebraic geometry to representations of vertex algebras in conformal field theory. The formalism developed here is expected to clarify the nature of the correspondence and lead directly to generalisations beyond simple singularities, as well as provide a dictionary to translate methods of CFT into singularity theory and vice versa. These results will further cement Australia's reputation as an international leader in pure mathematics and mathematical physics research.Read moreRead less
Classical and quantum invariants of low-dimensional manifolds. This project aims to advance our understanding of knots and 3-dimensional spaces, which arise naturally in fields as diverse as physics, computer graphics, chemistry and biology. Recent ideas from quantum field theory link physics to topology in dimensions 3 and 4, leading to powerful invariants of knots and 3-dimensional manifolds that include the Jones polynomial and the 3D-index. This project aims to resolve key questions relating ....Classical and quantum invariants of low-dimensional manifolds. This project aims to advance our understanding of knots and 3-dimensional spaces, which arise naturally in fields as diverse as physics, computer graphics, chemistry and biology. Recent ideas from quantum field theory link physics to topology in dimensions 3 and 4, leading to powerful invariants of knots and 3-dimensional manifolds that include the Jones polynomial and the 3D-index. This project aims to resolve key questions relating these quantum invariants to classical topology and geometry. The project will have a major impact in low-dimensional topology, and lead to deep and unexpected connections between mathematics and mathematical physics.Read moreRead less
New methods in spectral geometry. This project aims to use methods from mathematical scattering theory to resolve problems in the spectral analysis and index theory of differential operators. Both areas underpin the theoretical understanding of physical materials at micro length scales where quantum phenomena dominate. The project will develop new mathematical results in spectral analysis and geometry, and apply its results to theoretical models of quantum phenomena whose spectral properties are ....New methods in spectral geometry. This project aims to use methods from mathematical scattering theory to resolve problems in the spectral analysis and index theory of differential operators. Both areas underpin the theoretical understanding of physical materials at micro length scales where quantum phenomena dominate. The project will develop new mathematical results in spectral analysis and geometry, and apply its results to theoretical models of quantum phenomena whose spectral properties are at the limit of the range of mathematical techniques. Solving these problems is expected to influence non-commutative analysis.Read moreRead less
Complexity of group algorithms and statistical fingerprints of groups. This project aims to shape the next generation of efficient randomised algorithms in the field of group theory, the mathematics of symmetry. Fundamental mathematics underpins modern technological tasks such as web searches, sorting and data compression. This project aims to determine characteristic statistical fingerprints of key building-block groups. These group statistics lead to much faster procedures to essentially facto ....Complexity of group algorithms and statistical fingerprints of groups. This project aims to shape the next generation of efficient randomised algorithms in the field of group theory, the mathematics of symmetry. Fundamental mathematics underpins modern technological tasks such as web searches, sorting and data compression. This project aims to determine characteristic statistical fingerprints of key building-block groups. These group statistics lead to much faster procedures to essentially factor huge groups into smaller building-block groups in a manner akin to factoring an integer into its prime factors. The anticipated goal is to include the outcomes in publicly available symbolic algebra computer packages. As the theory of symmetry has broad applications in the mathematical and physical sciences, there is the potential for far reaching benefits.Read moreRead less
Non-linear partial differential equations: Bubbles, layers and stability. This project aims to investigate non-linear elliptic partial differential equations in well-established models in applied sciences. The treatment of them challenges the existing mathematical theory. This project will enrich and expand the mathematical theory in semi-linear elliptic equations to understand the equations under investigation.
Symmetry via braiding, diagrammatics and cellularity. Symmetry is a basic organising tool for humans to understand their environment. Invariants are the mathematical embodiment of symmetry, and their study is as ancient as thought itself. This project aims to use the tools of braided tensor categories and cellular structure, to analyse the invariants occurring in several fundamental areas of mathematics, particularly relating to physics. The endomorphism algebras in certain tensor categories, pa ....Symmetry via braiding, diagrammatics and cellularity. Symmetry is a basic organising tool for humans to understand their environment. Invariants are the mathematical embodiment of symmetry, and their study is as ancient as thought itself. This project aims to use the tools of braided tensor categories and cellular structure, to analyse the invariants occurring in several fundamental areas of mathematics, particularly relating to physics. The endomorphism algebras in certain tensor categories, particularly those for quantised superalgebras, will be realised as diagram algebras, and analysed using cellular theory. The intended output include criteria for semisimplicity, a new theory of diagram algebras, and decomposition theory which are expected to permit the determination of multiplicities of composition factors.Read moreRead less