Applications of generalised geometry to duality in quantum theory. This project will undertake research into mathematics at the forefront of modern physics. The aim of the project is to develop a mathematical theory of T-duality, a phenomenon in quantum physics, using generalised geometry.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE150101647
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$330,000.00
Summary
Symplectic solvmanifolds and their friends. Symplectic geometry is the mathematical foundation of classical mechanics and quantum theory. The symmetry group of a physical system determines the conservation laws governing its behaviour. This project aims to advance the understanding of a large class of these symmetry groups and their associated symplectic geometries, which are called symplectic solvmanifolds. The project aims to: determine the topological properties of symplectic solvmanifolds as ....Symplectic solvmanifolds and their friends. Symplectic geometry is the mathematical foundation of classical mechanics and quantum theory. The symmetry group of a physical system determines the conservation laws governing its behaviour. This project aims to advance the understanding of a large class of these symmetry groups and their associated symplectic geometries, which are called symplectic solvmanifolds. The project aims to: determine the topological properties of symplectic solvmanifolds as encoded in their fundamental groups; their geometric properties in the form of holonomy groups; and the algebraic properties of their symplectic algebras. The project endeavours to classify the building blocks of symplectic geometry.Read moreRead less
Coarse Geometry: a novel approach to the Callias index & topological matter. Coarse geometry is the study of the large-scale structure of metric spaces, in terms of operator algebras. This project aims to use coarse geometry to develop novel approaches to Callias index theory and its applications, and to topological phases of matter, where the Nobel Prize in physics in 2016 was awarded. This will yield new techniques in index theory and other areas, and solutions to several important problems. O ....Coarse Geometry: a novel approach to the Callias index & topological matter. Coarse geometry is the study of the large-scale structure of metric spaces, in terms of operator algebras. This project aims to use coarse geometry to develop novel approaches to Callias index theory and its applications, and to topological phases of matter, where the Nobel Prize in physics in 2016 was awarded. This will yield new techniques in index theory and other areas, and solutions to several important problems. Outcomes include a noncompact generalisation of the famous Guillemin-Sternberg conjecture that quantisation commutes with reduction, and new models of topological phases of matter in terms of K-theory of operator algebras. This project will benefit Australia by reinforcing its position in these highly active areas in science.Read moreRead less
Symmetry and geometric partial differential equations. This project aims to develop tools to assist the study of partial differential equations, which are fundamental to our understanding of the physical world. Symmetries of the Laplace equation are fundamental in both finding and interpreting its solutions and can be traced to the conformal symmetries of the underlying space. Only for the most symmetric of spaces, Euclidean space and the sphere, is this correspondence well understood. Using pow ....Symmetry and geometric partial differential equations. This project aims to develop tools to assist the study of partial differential equations, which are fundamental to our understanding of the physical world. Symmetries of the Laplace equation are fundamental in both finding and interpreting its solutions and can be traced to the conformal symmetries of the underlying space. Only for the most symmetric of spaces, Euclidean space and the sphere, is this correspondence well understood. Using powerful geometric tools from conformal geometry, the project will extend this to less symmetric spaces. The knowledge generated from this project will extend to more general geometric contexts providing a concrete setting for the study of the associated natural equations in curved spaces.Read moreRead less
Supersymmetric quantum field theory, topology and duality. Supersymmetry is universally considered as one of the most fundamental concepts in physics, playing an increasingly central role in recent studies of quantum field theory and string theory. There is a corresponding development of supersymmetry in mathematics and this project will make advances both in 'superphysics' and 'supermathematics'.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE170100149
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$357,000.00
Summary
T-duality and K-theory: Unity of condensed matter and string theory. This project aims to uncover deep mathematical structures which underlie recent discoveries at the forefront of string theory and condensed matter physics, using K-theory and T-duality as guiding themes. Inspired by string theory, T-duality techniques and geometric Fourier-Mukai transforms will be developed to study topological phases of matter. Similarly, topological materials motivate the detailed study of real twisted K-theo ....T-duality and K-theory: Unity of condensed matter and string theory. This project aims to uncover deep mathematical structures which underlie recent discoveries at the forefront of string theory and condensed matter physics, using K-theory and T-duality as guiding themes. Inspired by string theory, T-duality techniques and geometric Fourier-Mukai transforms will be developed to study topological phases of matter. Similarly, topological materials motivate the detailed study of real twisted K-theory and T-duality, which are then applicable to orientifold string theories. Anticipated outcomes include a deeper understanding of the theory of topological materials and its connection to string theory, and well-motivated mathematics widely applicable to the physical sciences. This understanding paves the way for novel technological applications.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
Advances in index theory. The laws of nature are often expressed in terms of differential equations, which if elliptic, have an index being the number of solutions minus the number of constraints imposed. The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem gives a striking calculation of this index and the projects involve innovative extensions of this theory with novel applications.
Advances in Index Theory. The laws of nature are often expressed in terms of differential equations which, if 'elliptic', have an 'index' being the number of solutions minus the number of constraints imposed. The Atiyah-Singer Index Theorem gives a striking calculation of this 'index', and this project involves innovative extensions of this theory with novel applications.
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE120102657
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$375,000.00
Summary
Group actions and K-theory: a new direction. This project investigates cutting-edge research in the mathematics of symmetries arising in nature. The aim is to significantly advance the frontiers of our knowledge by introducing new examples, original methods and a modern perspective.