You are here

Original Research Themes

Original Research Projects

information technology

  • The goal of this project was to apply and enhance the information processing capabilities of neural networks. Applications included finding patterns in large data sets concerning Canadian demographic and consumer buying information, developing pattern recognition and pattern matching networks for use in systems for flood and severe weather forecasting, and developing neural networks for correlating measurements from multiple sensors to assist human operators in making time critical decisions. This project completed in June 2002.

  • Information technology systems such as hardware devices, communication systems and protocols, and software systems are becoming increasingly complex, driven both by advances in technology and by demands for more powerful applications. This project focused on the modelling and verification of reactive systems. The salient characteristics of such systems are those of communication and control, as opposed to computation and data processing. This project completed in June 2002.

manufacturing

  • Semi-conductor materials are essential for today’s fast growing electronic and computer industries. Crystal growth is a key stage in the manufacturing process of semi-conductor wafers. There is a constant market pressure to increase the size and quality of both crystals and wafers in order to put more semi-conductor devices on a single wafer. The main objective of this project is to develop mathematical models and computational tools to gain insight into the different sub-processes involved in crystal growth. This project completed in March 2003.

  • This project was aimed at exploring novel circuit architectures and information processing using arrays of quantum dot based devices. Computing, communications, and the internet-based information processing applications are placing ever-increasing demands on current types of electronic devices and information-processing architectures. The project developed a mathematical understanding of the processes leading to the formation of arrays of self-assembled quantum dots, the interactions between these quantum dots, and developing models for storage and processing of information based on these many body interactions. This project completed in June 2002.

finance

  • This project made advances in a number of new areas: strategies and valuation in energy markets, hedge fund management strategies, valuation of mutual funds, financial valuation of insurance policies, as well as introducing new probabilistic market models. Out of this project have arisen two spin-off companies. Sigma Analysis and Management Limited provides investment products for Commodity Trading Advisors and Hedge Funds, and the Individual Finance and Insurance Decisions Centre, a nonprofit corporation, disseminates and conducts applied research in financial risk management. This project completed in June 2002.