Dynamics on moduli spaces of hyperbolic surfaces

NSF Award Search · 01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT · $137,633 · view on nsf.gov ↗

Abstract

Two-dimensional geometry has been a cornerstone of mathematics since antiquity. In addition to geometry on the xy-plane, mathematicians today study geometry on surfaces such as the crust of the Earth or the glaze of a donut. Most of these surfaces exhibit hyperbolic geometry, a type of non-Euclidean geometry in which parallel lines spread apart. Because of its ubiquity, two-dimensional hyperbolic geometry is a common meeting point for many branches of mathematics. Recently, the PI strengthened a connection linking hyperbolic geometry with certain transformations of two-dimensional Euclidean geometries, which were motivated by the kinetic motion of particles and the flow of electrons. The goal of this project is to further investigate this connection between non-Euclidean and Euclidean geometries in order to better understand both worlds. The project will also support professionalization, mentorship, and enrichment activities for a broad range of students. The research component of this project has three main prongs of attack. The first is to further develop (and complicate) the link between the earthquake and horocycle flows, dynamical systems on moduli spaces of hyperbolic surfaces and quadratic differentials, respectively. This will allow the PI both to leverage decades of progress on quadratic differentials to study hyperbolic surfaces, and to leverage new geometric features afforded by hyperbolic space to study quadratic differentials. The second prong is to study the

Key facts

NSF award ID
2506934
Awardee
University of Chicago (IL)
SAM.gov UEI
ZUE9HKT2CLC9
PI
Aaron Calderon
Primary program
01002526DB NSF RESEARCH & RELATED ACTIVIT
All programs
Estimated total
$137,633
Funds obligated
$137,633
Transaction type
Standard Grant
Period
07/01/2025 → 06/30/2028