Topics on 3- and 4-dimensional manifolds. - to develop practical algorithms for recognising surfaces, knots and 3-dimensional spaces. These will be very useful for experimentation
and to understand the computational complexity of such questions.
- to understand the properties of minimal surfaces in 3-dimensional spaces of constant negative curvature, with applications to the complexity of knots and the structure of these spaces.
- to develop a theory of 4-dimensional spaces which are covered ....Topics on 3- and 4-dimensional manifolds. - to develop practical algorithms for recognising surfaces, knots and 3-dimensional spaces. These will be very useful for experimentation
and to understand the computational complexity of such questions.
- to understand the properties of minimal surfaces in 3-dimensional spaces of constant negative curvature, with applications to the complexity of knots and the structure of these spaces.
- to develop a theory of 4-dimensional spaces which are covered by
Euclidean 4-space. New techniques will be utilised, since the powerful methods of Freedman-Quinn do not apply to most such spaces. Read moreRead less
Minimal surfaces. Recent stunning progress in topology, in particular a possible solution to one of the Clay Institute million dollar problems, using techniques from partial differential equations and minimal surfaces has made this area a hot topic. To attract researchers in this field to visit Australia and to train students in this area is a major part of this project.
Three-dimensional geometry and topology. This project will carry out important fundamental research into the geometry and topology of 3-dimensional manifolds, an area of intense activity over the last 30 years.
The work has direct applications to physics, for example recent work in cosmology aimed at determining the global structure of our universe. Our work on knotting and symmetries of molecular graphs will also be of considerable interest in chemistry and biology.
The project will also ....Three-dimensional geometry and topology. This project will carry out important fundamental research into the geometry and topology of 3-dimensional manifolds, an area of intense activity over the last 30 years.
The work has direct applications to physics, for example recent work in cosmology aimed at determining the global structure of our universe. Our work on knotting and symmetries of molecular graphs will also be of considerable interest in chemistry and biology.
The project will also provide high quality training of undergraduate and graduate students in geometry and topology, and will increase international cooperation by developing closer links with colleagues and institutions overseas.Read moreRead less
Geometric methods in quantum theory. Quantum theory is the fundamental language of physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. The advent of sophisticated models, particularly of quarks has emphasised geometric structure as a basic component of the theory. The issues thrown up by quantum theory are similar to problems encountered in the geometry of manifolds so that tools from the latter have been successfully employed in the former and vice-versa. ....Geometric methods in quantum theory. Quantum theory is the fundamental language of physics, it describes the small scale structure of matter and possibly space-time. The advent of sophisticated models, particularly of quarks has emphasised geometric structure as a basic component of the theory. The issues thrown up by quantum theory are similar to problems encountered in the geometry of manifolds so that tools from the latter have been successfully employed in the former and vice-versa. Previous work of the Chief Investigators has shown the importance of geometric structures known as gerbes which this Project will extend and apply in novel ways.Read moreRead less
Geometric structures on 3-manifolds. Three-dimensional manifolds are of central importance in topology, algebra, and cosmology (providing models for the universe). Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture gives a beautiful conjectural picture of
3-manifolds in terms of eight uniform geometries, but the conjecture and some of its basic consequences remain unproved. This project is aimed at making advances on fundamental questions in the following areas:
* construction of geometric structures by def ....Geometric structures on 3-manifolds. Three-dimensional manifolds are of central importance in topology, algebra, and cosmology (providing models for the universe). Thurston's Geometrization Conjecture gives a beautiful conjectural picture of
3-manifolds in terms of eight uniform geometries, but the conjecture and some of its basic consequences remain unproved. This project is aimed at making advances on fundamental questions in the following areas:
* construction of geometric structures by deformation methods,
* computation of geometric structures,
* geometric and algebraic invariants.Read moreRead less
Triangulations in dimension three: algorithms and geometric structures. Perelman recently won a Fields medal for the solution of the geometrisation and Poincare conjectures on three-dimensional spaces, using a very deep heat flow method to find optimal geometries on these spaces. The project will develop a new constructive approach to building these optimal geometric structures. This will lead to effective algorithmic methods to distinguish three-dimensional spaces, with applications to the stu ....Triangulations in dimension three: algorithms and geometric structures. Perelman recently won a Fields medal for the solution of the geometrisation and Poincare conjectures on three-dimensional spaces, using a very deep heat flow method to find optimal geometries on these spaces. The project will develop a new constructive approach to building these optimal geometric structures. This will lead to effective algorithmic methods to distinguish three-dimensional spaces, with applications to the study of knots and links (for example, knotted DNA molecules) and to mathematical physics. The project will also provide new techniques to study important problems in the classification of three-dimensional spaces, such as the virtual Haken conjecture.Read moreRead less
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
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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HOLOMORPHIC CURVES, REEB FLOWS AND CONTACT TOPOLOGY. Motion of a satellite is one of many examples of a Reeb dynamical system. The aim of the project is to deepen our understanding of Reeb flows. The Reeb flows, in particular, include Hamiltonian flows on three-dimensional contact type energy surfaces. To study the behaviour of Reeb flows we construct systems of global surfaces of section and study the iterates of the Poincare map, which is obtained by following the flow until it hits a surface. ....HOLOMORPHIC CURVES, REEB FLOWS AND CONTACT TOPOLOGY. Motion of a satellite is one of many examples of a Reeb dynamical system. The aim of the project is to deepen our understanding of Reeb flows. The Reeb flows, in particular, include Hamiltonian flows on three-dimensional contact type energy surfaces. To study the behaviour of Reeb flows we construct systems of global surfaces of section and study the iterates of the Poincare map, which is obtained by following the flow until it hits a surface. The main tools in constructing systems of global surfaces of section are holomorphic curves in symplectization, which are defined on punctured Riemann surfaces and solve nonlinear Cauchy-Riemann type operator. These curves are also main ingredients of new invariants of contact and symplectic manifolds.
These new invariants are now known as Contact Homology and Symplectic Field Theory. In the second part of the project we develop analytical foundations for these theories.Read moreRead less