Feng XuProfessor of MathematicsMathematics Dept xufeng@ucr.edu(951) 827-3016
On questions around reconstruction program
AWARD NUMBER
009739-002
FUND NUMBER
33429
STATUS
Active
AWARD TYPE
3-Grant
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AWARD EXECUTION DATE
5/2/2018
BEGIN DATE
7/1/2018
END DATE
6/30/2021
AWARD AMOUNT
$220,000
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Sponsor Information
SPONSOR AWARD NUMBER
SPONSOR
SPONSOR TYPE
FUNCTION
Organized Research
PROGRAM NAME
Proposal Information
PROPOSAL NUMBER
18030350
PROPOSAL TYPE
New
ACTIVITY TYPE
Basic Research
PI Information
PI
Xu, Feng
PI TITLE
Other
PI DEPTARTMENT
Mathematics
PI COLLEGE/SCHOOL
College of Nat & Agr Sciences
CO PIs
Project Information
ABSTRACT
Quantum Mechanics was one of crowning achievements of modern physics and has important applications in daily life such as X-ray, TV, etc. More recently it is the driving principle behind building a quantum computer. The theory of operator algebras was introduced by John von Neumann in order to provide a proper mathematical framework for Quantum Mechanics. The non-commutativity which is a key feature of Quantum Mechanics, is an important aspect of operator algebras. Vaughan Jones's subfactor theory is built on this non-commutative framework. Conformal field theory (CFT) is a theory describing critical phenomena in condensed matter physics, and it also plays an important role in string theory. In recent years there have been remarkable interactions between subfactors and conformal field theory that have led to many interesting mathematical issues. The aim of this project is to find solutions to some of the important mathematical issues that surface in this context which have a wide range of applications in both mathematics and quantum physics.
Subfactor theory provides an entry point into a world of mathematics and physics containing large parts of conformal field theory, quantum algebras and low dimensional topology. The research objective of this project is to develop further the connection between these subjects, and to find applications in the other area of mathematics. The project will rely on operator algebraic and subfactor techniques developed in studying CFT, including insights about old and new problems provided by the general framework of subfactors. The project's focus will be on the questions around the reconstruction program which are strongly motivated by recent construction of subfactors. In some cases there are strong indications that the subfactors come from CFT in certain ways that have been well established based on principal investigator's work. Solutions of the problems that are proposed would have important applications in diverse areas of mathematics. Results will be disseminated as research publications and presentations at professional meetings.
This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.(Abstract from NSF)
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