Structure and states of operator-algebraic dynamical systems. This project is in the general area of functional analysis, and more specifically operator theory, an area in which the University of Wollongong has an active research group and a strong international reputation. The investigators will study dynamical systems arising in combinatorial and number-theoretic situations, where the analogue of the "dynamics'' is provided by an action of the real line on an operator algebra. Thus the project ....Structure and states of operator-algebraic dynamical systems. This project is in the general area of functional analysis, and more specifically operator theory, an area in which the University of Wollongong has an active research group and a strong international reputation. The investigators will study dynamical systems arising in combinatorial and number-theoretic situations, where the analogue of the "dynamics'' is provided by an action of the real line on an operator algebra. Thus the project will involve ideas and techniques from a wide range of mathematical disciplines, and will help to broaden Australia's expertise across these disciplines.Read moreRead less
Endomorphisms, transfer operators and Hilbert modules. This project is in the general area of functional analysis, an area where both Newcastle University and the University of New South Wales have strong international reputations. The aim of the project is to study irreversible dynamics in the presence of transfer operators, as recently introduced by Professor Exel. The motivation comes from a variety of examples arising in different areas of mathematics, including number theory and graph theor ....Endomorphisms, transfer operators and Hilbert modules. This project is in the general area of functional analysis, an area where both Newcastle University and the University of New South Wales have strong international reputations. The aim of the project is to study irreversible dynamics in the presence of transfer operators, as recently introduced by Professor Exel. The motivation comes from a variety of examples arising in different areas of mathematics, including number theory and graph theory. It is hoped that the results will give new understanding of the algebraic and analytic structure underlying the multi-resolution analyses used in approximation theory and Fourier analysis. This project will help ensure that Australia has a strong foundation in mathematics which will foster innovation.Read moreRead less
Representations of dynamical systems, amenability, and proper actions. Mathematicians study abstract objects by representing them in terms of well-understood concrete models, and need to know when a representation is faithful, in the sense that the model contains complete information. Dynamical systems are an abstraction of physical systems suitable for studying time evolution and symmetries. The project aims to determine when important representations of dynamical systems are faithful, or, in ....Representations of dynamical systems, amenability, and proper actions. Mathematicians study abstract objects by representing them in terms of well-understood concrete models, and need to know when a representation is faithful, in the sense that the model contains complete information. Dynamical systems are an abstraction of physical systems suitable for studying time evolution and symmetries. The project aims to determine when important representations of dynamical systems are faithful, or, in mathematical language, when the dynamical system is amenable. The proposed strategy involves extending Rieffel's notion of proper actions; the construction should be of wide applicability apart from the intended applications to amenability.Read moreRead less
Operator algebras associated to semigroups and graphs. This project aims to unify ideas from two highly topical areas of mathematics in which one studies discrete objects by representing them as families of linear transformations. In the first area, one represents the semigroups which model irreversible dynamics as isometries (that is, distance-preserving transformations); in the second, one represents networks by families of partially defined isometries in a way which reflects the behaviour of ....Operator algebras associated to semigroups and graphs. This project aims to unify ideas from two highly topical areas of mathematics in which one studies discrete objects by representing them as families of linear transformations. In the first area, one represents the semigroups which model irreversible dynamics as isometries (that is, distance-preserving transformations); in the second, one represents networks by families of partially defined isometries in a way which reflects the behaviour of paths in the network. The link will be achieved by viewing the operator algebras they generate as semidirect products which have been twisted by a noncommutative cocycle.Read moreRead less
The structure of quantum groups. We propose to study the structure of mathematical objects used in describing symmetries of micro-scale phenomena. The project will significantly develop already well established Australian-Korean cooperation in this exciting and rapidly growing area of research. The results will be immediately applicable to related fields of mathematics, most notably to noncommutative geometry. In the long run, the outcomes will help in better understanding of fundamental problem ....The structure of quantum groups. We propose to study the structure of mathematical objects used in describing symmetries of micro-scale phenomena. The project will significantly develop already well established Australian-Korean cooperation in this exciting and rapidly growing area of research. The results will be immediately applicable to related fields of mathematics, most notably to noncommutative geometry. In the long run, the outcomes will help in better understanding of fundamental problems of modern quantum physics.Read moreRead less
Operator algebras associated to groupoids. Australian researchers have a strong reputation for excellence and innovation in the field of operator algebras. Operator algebras associated to groupoids have been immensely influential in recent decades, both within mathematics and via applications to theoretical physics. This project will develop an innovative approach to groupoid algebras, and will help to maintain the high standing of Australian researchers in this important field.
Co-universal operator algebras. Australian researchers have established themselves at the very forefront of research into operator algebras associated to graphs. The proposed research will make an important impact, at a fundamental level, on the way that researchers around the world view these operator algebras. This will help to further strengthen Australia's reputation in this field. The proposed program will also train two PhD students in a very active area of mathematics and put them in cont ....Co-universal operator algebras. Australian researchers have established themselves at the very forefront of research into operator algebras associated to graphs. The proposed research will make an important impact, at a fundamental level, on the way that researchers around the world view these operator algebras. This will help to further strengthen Australia's reputation in this field. The proposed program will also train two PhD students in a very active area of mathematics and put them in contact with a vibrant research community. This will help contribute to the strong future of pure mathematics in Australia.Read moreRead less
Diffusion driven pattern formation and signal propagation in spatially complex excitable media. A basic understanding of the mechanisms for pattern formation, from the spots on leopards to electrical signalling of neurons, has been achieved through reaction-diffusion equations. However to obtain a complete understanding, which is vital for many applications, it is necessary to modify this mathematical model to incorporate spatial complexities in the underlying media. This project will develop ....Diffusion driven pattern formation and signal propagation in spatially complex excitable media. A basic understanding of the mechanisms for pattern formation, from the spots on leopards to electrical signalling of neurons, has been achieved through reaction-diffusion equations. However to obtain a complete understanding, which is vital for many applications, it is necessary to modify this mathematical model to incorporate spatial complexities in the underlying media. This project will develop a fractional calculus framework for pattern formation, including signal propagation, in spatially complex and excitable media. In a particular application we will model the way in which the signalling properties of neurons depend critically on their spatial complexity.Read moreRead less
Representations and Applications of Quantum Groups. The theory of quantum groups originated from soluble lattice models in statistical mechanics, but it turned out to have important applications to a wide range of subjects in mathematics and physics. For this reason, quantum groups have occupied a central stage of international mathematical research for the last decade, and continue to attract great interest. This project addresses some important open problems on representations and applicatio ....Representations and Applications of Quantum Groups. The theory of quantum groups originated from soluble lattice models in statistical mechanics, but it turned out to have important applications to a wide range of subjects in mathematics and physics. For this reason, quantum groups have occupied a central stage of international mathematical research for the last decade, and continue to attract great interest. This project addresses some important open problems on representations and applications of some finite dimensional quantum groups.Read moreRead less
New Directions in Noncommutative Geometry. A. Connes' noncommutative geometry has recently become important in topology, geometry and physics. The central geometric objects in noncommutative geometry are called spectral triples. Spectral triples also provide the framework for studying some important classes of equations. This project will extend the definitions of spectral triples to cover additional important examples. This extension will provide the tools to study a broad class of boundary val ....New Directions in Noncommutative Geometry. A. Connes' noncommutative geometry has recently become important in topology, geometry and physics. The central geometric objects in noncommutative geometry are called spectral triples. Spectral triples also provide the framework for studying some important classes of equations. This project will extend the definitions of spectral triples to cover additional important examples. This extension will provide the tools to study a broad class of boundary value problems in the theory of equations. Such problems occur in several areas of modern physics. In addition, results obtained will be useful for studying the structure of the most important spectral triples, called noncommutative manifolds.Read moreRead less