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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: EP/L01078X/1
Title: The partition algebra: a new approach to the symmetric group and applications to P vs NP.
Principal Investigator: de Visscher, Dr M
Other Investigators:
Cox, Dr A
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Sch of Engineering and Mathematical Sci
Organisation: City, University of London
Scheme: Standard Research
Starts: 30 June 2014 Ends: 30 September 2017 Value (£): 314,580
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Algebra & Geometry
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
05 Mar 2014 EPSRC Mathematics Prioritisation Meeting March 2014 Announced
27 Nov 2013 Mathematics Prioritisation Panel Meeting Nov 2013 Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
The Kronecker problem is a classical problem in Mathematics, which has been open for over a hundred years. It asks for a description of some coefficients, called the Kronecker coefficients, appearing in the representation theory of the symmetric group. More recently, this problem has been shown to play a key role in Geometric Complexity theory, an approach that seeks to settle the famous P vs NP problem.

We have recently proposed a completely new approach to the Kronecker problem using the duality between the symmetric group and the partition algebra. Early results suggest that this may well lead to a complete solution. This proposal aims at developing this tool further (and extending it to positive characteristics) to give a systematic study of the ordinary and modular representation theory of the symmetric group.

In parallel, we plan to liaise with the Computer Science community to investigate the implications of our work to the celebrated P vs NP problem.
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Organisation Website: http://www.city.ac.uk