Special Research Initiatives - Grant ID: SR0354716
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$10,000.00
Summary
Energetically Open Systems Research Network Study. Conceptual frameworks arising in the physical sciences, such as non-equilibrium statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, synergetics, chaos and dynamical systems theory, are seminal in the emerging science of complexity. This study will lay the groundwork for a network to link Australian and overseas research on these fundamental concepts, and their application within the context of entropy-producing systems vital to the long-term sustainabilit ....Energetically Open Systems Research Network Study. Conceptual frameworks arising in the physical sciences, such as non-equilibrium statistical mechanics and thermodynamics, synergetics, chaos and dynamical systems theory, are seminal in the emerging science of complexity. This study will lay the groundwork for a network to link Australian and overseas research on these fundamental concepts, and their application within the context of entropy-producing systems vital to the long-term sustainability of the earth - oceans, atmosphere, biosphere, CO2-free energy production, space and solar environment. The network would facilitate the development of young investigators and be linked into wider complex systems networks such as the CSIRO Centre for Complex Systems Science.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
Twisted K-theory and its application to String Theory and Conformal Field Theory. String Theory is, at present, the only consistent theory of quantum gravity. Recently, twisted K-theory was proposed as the algebraic structure underlying the classification of D-branes, i.e. solitonic extended objects, in certain closed string backgrounds. In this project we aim to advance our understanding of the properties of twisted K-theory in the context of String Theory and Conformal Field Theory. The ult ....Twisted K-theory and its application to String Theory and Conformal Field Theory. String Theory is, at present, the only consistent theory of quantum gravity. Recently, twisted K-theory was proposed as the algebraic structure underlying the classification of D-branes, i.e. solitonic extended objects, in certain closed string backgrounds. In this project we aim to advance our understanding of the properties of twisted K-theory in the context of String Theory and Conformal Field Theory. The ultimate goal is to find the appropriate K-theory classifying D-branes in arbitrary closed string backgrounds or, similarly, classifying boundary Conformal Field Theories. It has already emerged that the K-theory of C*-algebras will play an important role.Read moreRead less
Dualities in String Theory and Conformal Field Theory in the context of the Geometric Langlands Program. The Langlands program ties together seemingly unrelated areas of Mathematics. Recently, in the context of the Geometric Langlands correspondence, novel connections with Theoretical Physics have emerged, thus becoming one of the most active areas of research in both Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Australia has a number of world-renowned experts, including the two CI's, in various aspect ....Dualities in String Theory and Conformal Field Theory in the context of the Geometric Langlands Program. The Langlands program ties together seemingly unrelated areas of Mathematics. Recently, in the context of the Geometric Langlands correspondence, novel connections with Theoretical Physics have emerged, thus becoming one of the most active areas of research in both Mathematics and Theoretical Physics. Australia has a number of world-renowned experts, including the two CI's, in various aspects of the Langlands program, and is therefore well-placed to make seminal contributions. Being involved in these new developments is of crucial importance to the health of Mathematics and Theoretical Physics in Australia. An integral part of this proposal is student involvement and postgraduate training.Read moreRead less
Monopoles, instantons and metrics. This Project is pure basic research in the general area of differential geometry or the study of manifolds. Manifolds are higher dimensional analogues of surfaces such as the surface of the sphere or the surface of a doughnut. This Project studies monopoles and instantons which are solutions of partial differential equations arising in physics. These solutions and the so-called moduli spaces of all solutions have been used in the last two decades by the worlds ....Monopoles, instantons and metrics. This Project is pure basic research in the general area of differential geometry or the study of manifolds. Manifolds are higher dimensional analogues of surfaces such as the surface of the sphere or the surface of a doughnut. This Project studies monopoles and instantons which are solutions of partial differential equations arising in physics. These solutions and the so-called moduli spaces of all solutions have been used in the last two decades by the worlds leading mathematicians to revolutionize the study of three and four dimensional manifolds.Read moreRead less
Characterizing and classifying ovoids, flocks and generalized quadrangles. This project lies within the framework of the classification and characterization of fundamental structures in finite geometry. This research area is the site of much international activity, in which the proposed research team plays a central role. The aim of the project is to pursue twin goals: the classification of ovoids in three dimensional projective space, a famous long-standing problem; and the classification of ce ....Characterizing and classifying ovoids, flocks and generalized quadrangles. This project lies within the framework of the classification and characterization of fundamental structures in finite geometry. This research area is the site of much international activity, in which the proposed research team plays a central role. The aim of the project is to pursue twin goals: the classification of ovoids in three dimensional projective space, a famous long-standing problem; and the classification of certain generalized quadrangles. Our approach is novel as it utilises recently discovered links between these areas. The expected outcomes are significant progress towards these goals, as well as the development of new techniques in finite geometry.Read moreRead less
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
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
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