Quantum many-body systems with higher mathematical symmetries. Ongoing developments in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum systems play a leading role in the international effort towards the eventual realisation of quantum technology. This project brings together Australian and US researchers with complementary strengths to develop the mathematical study of fundamental systems of interacting quantum particles of relevance to experiments. The project will ensure that Australian rese ....Quantum many-body systems with higher mathematical symmetries. Ongoing developments in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum systems play a leading role in the international effort towards the eventual realisation of quantum technology. This project brings together Australian and US researchers with complementary strengths to develop the mathematical study of fundamental systems of interacting quantum particles of relevance to experiments. The project will ensure that Australian researchers participate in and benefit from international developments in a leading edge area of fundamental research. It will also contribute to training students in rapidly advancing areas with the capacity to contribute to a wide range of problems, including the emerging technology of quantum devices.Read moreRead less
The mathematical analysis of ultracold quantum gases. Ongoing developments in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum
gases play a leading role in the international effort towards the
eventual realisation of quantum technology. This project brings together Australian
researchers with complementary strengths to develop a sophisticated range of innovative
mathematical tools for understanding these fundamental quantum systems. The expected
outcomes will thus include potentially far r ....The mathematical analysis of ultracold quantum gases. Ongoing developments in the experimental realisation of ultracold quantum
gases play a leading role in the international effort towards the
eventual realisation of quantum technology. This project brings together Australian
researchers with complementary strengths to develop a sophisticated range of innovative
mathematical tools for understanding these fundamental quantum systems. The expected
outcomes will thus include potentially far reaching impacts on downstream quantum technology.
The project will contribute to training mathematically talented students and thus take essential
steps to establish the long term future of mathematical physics in Australia. It will also establish enduring key international research links.Read moreRead less
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
Noncommutative geometry in representation theory and quantum physics. One of the most important problems in natural science is to understand the structure of spacetime at the Planck scale. Mathematical investigations in recent years have predicted that at this scale, spacetime becomes noncommutative. Taking this noncommutativity into account, the project brings together geometry, algebra and quantum mechanics to develop new mathematical theories required for addressing the problem. It promises ....Noncommutative geometry in representation theory and quantum physics. One of the most important problems in natural science is to understand the structure of spacetime at the Planck scale. Mathematical investigations in recent years have predicted that at this scale, spacetime becomes noncommutative. Taking this noncommutativity into account, the project brings together geometry, algebra and quantum mechanics to develop new mathematical theories required for addressing the problem. It promises to make fundamental contributions to both mathematics and theoretical physics. 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
Low-order dynamical models for non-linear fluid behaviour in quasi two-dimensional plasmas. Two complex systems in which a magnetic field imposes two-dimensional fluid motions are turbulent fusion plasmas and magnetospheric plasmas. A distinctive property of 2D flows is the inverse energy cascade, whereby energy streaming into large-scale vortices, coherent structures, or sheared flows gives a remarkable propensity for self-organizing behaviour. This can be exploited to govern or guide our respo ....Low-order dynamical models for non-linear fluid behaviour in quasi two-dimensional plasmas. Two complex systems in which a magnetic field imposes two-dimensional fluid motions are turbulent fusion plasmas and magnetospheric plasmas. A distinctive property of 2D flows is the inverse energy cascade, whereby energy streaming into large-scale vortices, coherent structures, or sheared flows gives a remarkable propensity for self-organizing behaviour. This can be exploited to govern or guide our response to such systems. We propose to investigate the dynamics of momentum and energy exchange in these plasmas, using reduced dynamical models and bifurcation and stability mathematics. Expected outcomes are improved prediction of magnetospheric substorms and confinement of fusion plasmas.
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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.
The fundamental structure of combinatorial configurations. Combinatorial configurations are fundamental mathematical tools used to model physical problems in the information sciences. Combinatorial trades arise from the differences between combinatorial configurations. They uniquely determine the underlying structure of the configuration and are central to the determination of defining sets. With this proposal we shall study the existence, properties and applications of combinatorial trades and ....The fundamental structure of combinatorial configurations. Combinatorial configurations are fundamental mathematical tools used to model physical problems in the information sciences. Combinatorial trades arise from the differences between combinatorial configurations. They uniquely determine the underlying structure of the configuration and are central to the determination of defining sets. With this proposal we shall study the existence, properties and applications of combinatorial trades and the associated defining sets. Our results will have applications in the areas of biotechnology, information systems, information security and experimental design.Read moreRead less
Global aspects of dualities in String Theory in the presence of background fluxes. String Theory, known to the general public as the "Theory of Everything', is currently an extremely active area of research internationally. It has not only stimulated considerable interaction between mathematical physicists and mathematicians, but also increased public interest in science through television programs and books. Unfortunately, the majority of the Australian scientific community has not yet caught ....Global aspects of dualities in String Theory in the presence of background fluxes. String Theory, known to the general public as the "Theory of Everything', is currently an extremely active area of research internationally. It has not only stimulated considerable interaction between mathematical physicists and mathematicians, but also increased public interest in science through television programs and books. Unfortunately, the majority of the Australian scientific community has not yet caught up with these developments. Our recent papers, all published in premier journals in this field, have not only received widespread international attention but have also increased the profile of String Theory amongst Australia's mathematicians and mathematical physicists. The proposed project is expected to continue this trend.Read moreRead less
New frontiers in statistical mechanics. The chiral Potts model has been introduced in 1981 as a model for commensurate-incommensurate phase transitions in a layer of atoms or molecules adsorbed to a solid surface. If the adsorbed atoms all fit to holes between the surface atoms, the added layer is frozen, commensurate with the surface. If the added atoms are unable to fit holes, the added layer is no longer commensurate with the surface and could be in a floating state. A deeper understanding of ....New frontiers in statistical mechanics. The chiral Potts model has been introduced in 1981 as a model for commensurate-incommensurate phase transitions in a layer of atoms or molecules adsorbed to a solid surface. If the adsorbed atoms all fit to holes between the surface atoms, the added layer is frozen, commensurate with the surface. If the added atoms are unable to fit holes, the added layer is no longer commensurate with the surface and could be in a floating state. A deeper understanding of this and similar phenomena in layered systems has nanotechnological implications. This may affect the design of new small electronic devices or could apply to small biological systems and the development of new medicines. The project will surely lead to new applicable mathematics.Read moreRead less