Geometric evolution of spaces with symmetries. Symmetries underpin numerous laws of nature and mathematical constructions. This project aims to develop a comprehensive theory of the famous Ricci flow equation in the presence of symmetries. Previous study of this equation has led to many ground-breaking results, such as Perelman's celebrated proof of the century-old Poincaré conjecture. Outcomes are expected to fill major knowledge gaps in mathematics, opening doors to applications in quantum fie ....Geometric evolution of spaces with symmetries. Symmetries underpin numerous laws of nature and mathematical constructions. This project aims to develop a comprehensive theory of the famous Ricci flow equation in the presence of symmetries. Previous study of this equation has led to many ground-breaking results, such as Perelman's celebrated proof of the century-old Poincaré conjecture. Outcomes are expected to fill major knowledge gaps in mathematics, opening doors to applications in quantum field theory, relativity and other fields. Anticipated benefits include strengthening Australia’s leadership in mathematical innovation, advancing the internationalisation of the Australian research scene, and increasing the involvement of women in STEM.Read moreRead less
Geometric evolution problems in nonlinear partial differential equations. This project aims to address important problems key to the understanding of geometric evolution equations and certain other nonlinear partial differential equations. The problems to be tackled lie in a very active area of mathematics: harmonic maps, liquid crystals and Yang-Mills theory. Special aims are to exploit new methods to settle open problems in harmonic maps and Yang-Mills equations, and to improve understanding o ....Geometric evolution problems in nonlinear partial differential equations. This project aims to address important problems key to the understanding of geometric evolution equations and certain other nonlinear partial differential equations. The problems to be tackled lie in a very active area of mathematics: harmonic maps, liquid crystals and Yang-Mills theory. Special aims are to exploit new methods to settle open problems in harmonic maps and Yang-Mills equations, and to improve understanding of practical questions such as the mathematical modelling of liquid crystals via the celebrated Ericksen-Leslie and Landau-de Gennes theories. The expected outcomes are fundamental results in mathematics, with applications in other sciences.Read moreRead less
The mathematics of novel magnetic memory materials. Magnetic memories are the world’s principal device for storing information. The next generation will have greatly increased access speed and data-storage capacity. This project will develop the mathematical theory of these new magnetic memory materials, a crucial first step in understanding and being able to fine-tune their properties.
New mathematics for understanding complex patterns in the natural sciences. This project aims to examine the interaction of fundamental two-dimensional patterns such as spots and stripes in reaction-diffusion equations, by developing and extending mathematical techniques. These fundamental planar structures form the backbone of more complex patterns and are, for example, observed in models that describe the propagation of impulses in nerve axons and the formation of vegetation patterns. The futu ....New mathematics for understanding complex patterns in the natural sciences. This project aims to examine the interaction of fundamental two-dimensional patterns such as spots and stripes in reaction-diffusion equations, by developing and extending mathematical techniques. These fundamental planar structures form the backbone of more complex patterns and are, for example, observed in models that describe the propagation of impulses in nerve axons and the formation of vegetation patterns. The future impact of this research will have economic and environmental benefits. For example, the project will develop a deeper understanding of interacting patterns that will provide insights into the role of vegetation in ecosystems that are undergoing desertification.Read moreRead less
Geometric partial differential systems and their applications. This proposal addresses questions central to the understanding of nonlinear partial differential systems from classical, quantum field theory and liquid crystals. Applications to physical problems such as the Yang-Mills flow, Faddeev's model and liquid crystal systems are of great interest and importance in the broader scientific community. The project will yield internationally significant results in theoretical mathematics, with ....Geometric partial differential systems and their applications. This proposal addresses questions central to the understanding of nonlinear partial differential systems from classical, quantum field theory and liquid crystals. Applications to physical problems such as the Yang-Mills flow, Faddeev's model and liquid crystal systems are of great interest and importance in the broader scientific community. The project will yield internationally significant results in theoretical mathematics, with applications in physics and and other sciences. Specialist training will be provided for Australia's next generation of mathematicians. This project will enable Australian researchers to stay at the forefront of research in this area, strengthening links with a number of world-leading mathematicians.Read moreRead less
Geometric variational problems and nonlinear partial differential systems. We will investigate several important problems on non-linear partial differential systems, bridging analysis, differential geometry and mathematical physics. Harmonic maps are the prototype of maps minimizing the Dirichlet energy. The liquid crystal configuration generalizes the harmonic map with values into two dimensional spheres. The Yang-Mills equations originated from particle physics. We will make fundamental contri ....Geometric variational problems and nonlinear partial differential systems. We will investigate several important problems on non-linear partial differential systems, bridging analysis, differential geometry and mathematical physics. Harmonic maps are the prototype of maps minimizing the Dirichlet energy. The liquid crystal configuration generalizes the harmonic map with values into two dimensional spheres. The Yang-Mills equations originated from particle physics. We will make fundamental contributions to these topics: Regularity problem and energy minimality of weakly harmonic maps, Weak solutions of the liquid crystal equilibrium system, Yang-Mills heat flow and singular Yang-Mills connections.
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Determination of Conductivity Values for Anisotropic Tissue. Well established mathematical models governing the electrical potential in biological tissue can be combined with measurements of the electric potential on the surface of the tissue to provide insight into subsurface tissue damage. However, before such observations can be convincingly accepted, reliable values for the tissue conductivity must be obtained. The aim of this project is to develop mathematical techniques to calculate the co ....Determination of Conductivity Values for Anisotropic Tissue. Well established mathematical models governing the electrical potential in biological tissue can be combined with measurements of the electric potential on the surface of the tissue to provide insight into subsurface tissue damage. However, before such observations can be convincingly accepted, reliable values for the tissue conductivity must be obtained. The aim of this project is to develop mathematical techniques to calculate the conductivity values so that one can apply the equations to solve problems of potential distribution and proceed to accurately simulate electrical potential distributions in damaged tissue. More accurate and reliable conductivity values will allow a better understanding of the way electric current moves through the heart which, in turn, will result in more efficient defibrillators and better diagnosis of abnormal function.Read moreRead less
Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowle ....Multi-scale modelling of cell migration in developmental biology. Interpretative and predictive tools are needed for the comprehensive understanding of directed cell migration in the medical sciences. Mathematical models and modelling methodologies developed in this project will make a significant contribution to the investigation of cell migration and the testing and generation of hypotheses. Such models are needed to understand observed cellular patterns. This project will contribute to knowledge of normal and abnormal developmental processes, especially in embryonic growth. Understanding these processes should lead to prediction and treatment of congenital disorders and contribute to a healthy start to life.Read moreRead less
What predictions can I trust? Stability of chaotic random dynamical systems. This project aims to make significant progress on the intricate question of global stability of non-autonomous chaotic dynamical systems. Using ergodic theory, this project expects to determine when and how errors in dynamical models that are small and frequent, or large and infrequent, can cause dramatic changes in meaningful mathematical model outputs. Expected outcomes include the discovery of mathematical mechanisms ....What predictions can I trust? Stability of chaotic random dynamical systems. This project aims to make significant progress on the intricate question of global stability of non-autonomous chaotic dynamical systems. Using ergodic theory, this project expects to determine when and how errors in dynamical models that are small and frequent, or large and infrequent, can cause dramatic changes in meaningful mathematical model outputs. Expected outcomes include the discovery of mathematical mechanisms underlying large-scale (in)stability for time-dependent dynamical systems, and reliable numerical methods for detecting instabilities. This research is expected to lead to improved characterisations of shocks or collapse in externally driven dynamical systems and assist scientists to gauge which predictions they can trust.Read moreRead less
New mathematics to quantify fluctuations and extremes in dynamical systems. Many problems in the natural world result from the cumulative effect of extreme events in complex dynamical systems. Dynamical models of ecological and physical processes have internal variables that can combine to produce large observable changes. Quantitative estimation of the variability of these chaotic models is difficult because of the time dependence of the dynamics and their “long memory” due to significant deter ....New mathematics to quantify fluctuations and extremes in dynamical systems. Many problems in the natural world result from the cumulative effect of extreme events in complex dynamical systems. Dynamical models of ecological and physical processes have internal variables that can combine to produce large observable changes. Quantitative estimation of the variability of these chaotic models is difficult because of the time dependence of the dynamics and their “long memory” due to significant deterministic components. This project aims to develop mathematics and numerics to accurately quantify and assess these complicated variations. The project expects to provide powerful tools to predict harmful outcomes in biogeophysical systems, and assist with the development of mitigation strategies.Read moreRead less