APPLIED MATHEMATICS
The potential of Applied Mathematics as an “enabling technology” for all areas of business is immense, and largely untapped. Therefore Great Western Research will consider proposals for studentships from all areas of applied mathematics.
Regional relevance and business partners
Theory, modelling, and simulation can give companies an advantage in development and rapid prototyping, and significantly reduce the time and expense needed to bring new products to market. For example, the electronics industry will not risk deploying billions of devices based on molecular electronics, even when they can be built, unless they are thoroughly understood and manufacturing processes are made predictable and controllable. Hence, broad based tools in theory, multi-scale modelling, and simulation are crucial for the success of industrial applications.
Because theory, multi-scale modelling, and simulation has been identified as a great technology enabler, it could potentially have a great impact on the development of commercial enterprises in the South West. Indeed, the (at the moment) uniqueness of this proposed activity could actually encourage and attract potential start-up companies to the region.
As we move more and more to a knowledge based economy increasing the numbers of Ph. D. trained applied mathematicians in the SW will provide the region with a significant competitive advantage for all sizes of businesses and government organizations. This strategic development will, potentially, have an important, and possibly crucial, impact on the development of related commercial enterprises in the South-West.
Case study – Applied Mathematics Theme: Modelling and stability analysis of lasers coupled to periodic nanostructures (Bookham Inc. in partnership with the Universities of Exeter & Bristol)
Nanotechnology - linking behaviour on the small scale to behaviour on the large scale - is giving rise to a new industrial revolution and will have an impact on the development of related commercial enterprises in the South-West. However, a key potential bottleneck for future development is a lack of modelling and simulation tools which will reduce the cost of development. A ground-breaking collaboration between Bookham (a leading global provider of optical components) and the Universities of Exeter and Bristol will investigate mathematical models relevant to high technology nanoscale processes, providing new tools for modelling optical circuits with nanoelements.