Geometric problems from quantum theory. This Proposal is fundamental, basic research at the forefront of the application of mathematics to physical theories. The problems that will be worked on are central to much of the research activity which is presently occuring in leading centres and institutes internationally. By being a part of that research we ensure that not only is Australia involved in todays mathematical and physical advances but that we also have Australian mathematicians trained ....Geometric problems from quantum theory. This Proposal is fundamental, basic research at the forefront of the application of mathematics to physical theories. The problems that will be worked on are central to much of the research activity which is presently occuring in leading centres and institutes internationally. By being a part of that research we ensure that not only is Australia involved in todays mathematical and physical advances but that we also have Australian mathematicians trained to take advantage of the benefits those advances will bring in the future.Read moreRead less
Novel geometric invariants. Quantum theory is the language of fundamental physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. Sophisticated models in condensed matter physics and string theory have exposed geometric and topological structure as basic building blocks of the theory. Issues thrown up by quantum theory are very similar to, and have provided techniques to solve, problems in the geometry of three and four dimensional manifolds. Exciting two way exchanges ....Novel geometric invariants. Quantum theory is the language of fundamental physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. Sophisticated models in condensed matter physics and string theory have exposed geometric and topological structure as basic building blocks of the theory. Issues thrown up by quantum theory are very similar to, and have provided techniques to solve, problems in the geometry of three and four dimensional manifolds. Exciting two way exchanges of methods, problems and solutions have emerged. This project aims to settle fundamental questions in the interaction between these two fields.Read moreRead less
Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354466
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$20,000.00
Summary
Mathematics in Contemporary Science. The Mathematics in Contemporary Science Research Network brings contemporary methods of non-linear analysis and differential equations, geometric reasoning and relevant algebraic and topological ideas to enrich six application areas in modern science: Complex Systems, Computer Vision, Optimal Transportation, Nanotechnology, Physics and Shortest Networks. MiCS will develop both the mathematics and the application areas in parallel. It will focus on postgradu ....Mathematics in Contemporary Science. The Mathematics in Contemporary Science Research Network brings contemporary methods of non-linear analysis and differential equations, geometric reasoning and relevant algebraic and topological ideas to enrich six application areas in modern science: Complex Systems, Computer Vision, Optimal Transportation, Nanotechnology, Physics and Shortest Networks. MiCS will develop both the mathematics and the application areas in parallel. It will focus on postgraduate training through workshops, summer schools and web based resources and build long-term international collaborations with EU networks and NSERC, NSF and EPSRC institutes as well as bringing together academic and industry leaders.Read moreRead less
New approaches to index theory. The laws of nature are often expressed by differential equations, involving their rates of change. If 'elliptic,' they have an 'index,' which is the number of solutions minus the number of constraints imposed. The Atiyah-Singer index theorem gives a striking calculation of this "index'. An extension is Fractional Index Theory, which has received international attention, having solved a fundamental open problem. A central aim is to investigate this further. I will ....New approaches to index theory. The laws of nature are often expressed by differential equations, involving their rates of change. If 'elliptic,' they have an 'index,' which is the number of solutions minus the number of constraints imposed. The Atiyah-Singer index theorem gives a striking calculation of this "index'. An extension is Fractional Index Theory, which has received international attention, having solved a fundamental open problem. A central aim is to investigate this further. I will assist beginners to navigate to the cutting edge of research through workshops, spring-schools and supervision. Benefits include the enhancement of Australia's position in the forefront of international research.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE160100024
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$391,509.00
Summary
Higgs bundle moduli spaces and spectral data. The aim of this Project is to advance the study of Higgs bundles using a construction known as spectral data. Higgs bundles are geometric structures bridging several branches of mathematics including differential geometry, representation theory and mathematical physics. This should lead to new results and solve some important open problems concerning the geometry of Higgs bundle moduli spaces and their symmetry groups. The results obtained in the Pro ....Higgs bundle moduli spaces and spectral data. The aim of this Project is to advance the study of Higgs bundles using a construction known as spectral data. Higgs bundles are geometric structures bridging several branches of mathematics including differential geometry, representation theory and mathematical physics. This should lead to new results and solve some important open problems concerning the geometry of Higgs bundle moduli spaces and their symmetry groups. The results obtained in the Project should benefit the many branches of mathematics interacting with Higgs bundles. Such theoretical underpinnings are the basis on which new innovations and technologies in science and engineering may be developed.Read moreRead less
Higher Line Bundles in Geometry and Physics. This project seeks to develop a theory of geometric objects, `higher line bundles', which realise elements of higher dimensional cohomology groups. In particular this project will develop a theory of differential geometry for these objects, allowing one to interpret differential forms representing cohomology classes as the `curvature' of a higher line bundle. This will have applications in quantum field theory and string/brane theory.
Fractional analytic index theory. Atiyah-Singer index theory, for which M.F. Atiyah and I.M. Singer received the 2004 Abel Prize, has stimulated considerable interaction between mathematicians and mathematical physicists. An extension of this theory is Fractional Index Theory, co-invented by R.B. Melrose, I.M. Singer and myself, which has received international attention, having solved a fundamental open problem. A central aim in my research project is to extend our theory to elliptic boundary ....Fractional analytic index theory. Atiyah-Singer index theory, for which M.F. Atiyah and I.M. Singer received the 2004 Abel Prize, has stimulated considerable interaction between mathematicians and mathematical physicists. An extension of this theory is Fractional Index Theory, co-invented by R.B. Melrose, I.M. Singer and myself, which has received international attention, having solved a fundamental open problem. A central aim in my research project is to extend our theory to elliptic boundary value problems. I will assist beginners to navigate to the cutting edge of research through workshops, spring-schools and supervision. Benefits include the enhancement of Australia's position in the forefront of international research.Read moreRead less
Topological Optimisation of Fluid Mixing. The proposed research is aimed at improving the efficiency of fluid mixers,
which in the long term has potential to reduce vastly the economic and
environmental costs associated with large-scale mixing processes in Australian
chemical industries. The research will not only impact on practical mixer
design, but will also develop important results in the application of topology
to the the field of chaotic dynamical systems. This project will also prov ....Topological Optimisation of Fluid Mixing. The proposed research is aimed at improving the efficiency of fluid mixers,
which in the long term has potential to reduce vastly the economic and
environmental costs associated with large-scale mixing processes in Australian
chemical industries. The research will not only impact on practical mixer
design, but will also develop important results in the application of topology
to the the field of chaotic dynamical systems. This project will also provide a
graduate student and post-doctoral researcher with training to pursue a career
in fluid dynamics or general applied mathematics research.
Read moreRead less
Bundle gerbes: generalisations and applications. This project is fundamental, basic research at the forefront of modern differential geometry and its application to physics. It will ensure that Australia is involved in today's mathematical and physical advances and that we have Australian mathematicians trained to take advantage of the future benefits of these advances.
Parametrised gauge theory and positive scalar curvature. This project aims to study innovative extensions of Seiberg-Witten gauge theory with new applications to the topology of metrics of positive scalar curvature on four-dimensional manifolds. Since Atiyah-Bott, Donaldson, Hitchin, and Seiberg-Witten’s work on various equations in gauge theory, profound applications have changed the geometry and topology of low dimensional manifolds. Parametrised index theory has obtained deep results on the t ....Parametrised gauge theory and positive scalar curvature. This project aims to study innovative extensions of Seiberg-Witten gauge theory with new applications to the topology of metrics of positive scalar curvature on four-dimensional manifolds. Since Atiyah-Bott, Donaldson, Hitchin, and Seiberg-Witten’s work on various equations in gauge theory, profound applications have changed the geometry and topology of low dimensional manifolds. Parametrised index theory has obtained deep results on the topology of metrics of positive scalar curvature in higher dimensions, but these methods do not work in the case of the fourth dimension. This project will develop (parametrised) Seiberg-Witten gauge theory as a new approach to the study of the topology of metrics of positive scalar curvature in four dimensions. Expected outcomes include new invariants related to positive scalar curvature in four dimensions.Read moreRead less