Data-Gouv-ML/pcri-informations-sur-les-projets-laureats huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Hardness of Theorem Proving (UTHOTP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Computer science and informatics
Countries involved: Sweden
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-07-01
End date: 2018-06-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1460000.0
EU funding (EUR): 1460000.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This project aims to explore the fundamental question in computer science and mathematics regarding what computational problems can feasibly be solved on a computer. More specifically, we want to study algorithms for proving logic formulas as well as impossibility results for this problem. Proving formulas in propositional logic is a problem of immense importance both theoretically and practically. On the one hand, this computational task is believed to be intractable in general, and deciding whether this is so is one of the famous million dollar Millennium Problems (the P vs NP problem). On the other hand, today automated theorem provers, or so-called SAT solvers, are routinely used to solve large-scale real-world problem instances with even millions of variables. This contrasts to that there are also known small example formulas with just hundreds of variables that cause even state-of-the-art SAT solvers to stumble. The main objectives of our project are as follows: (1) Understand what makes formulas hard or easy in practice by building and studying better theoretical models of the proof systems underlying SAT solvers, and testing the predictions of these models against empirical data. (2) Gain theoretical insights into other crucial issues in SAT solving such as memory management and parallelization. (3) Explore the possibility of basing SAT solvers on stronger proof systems than are currently being used. (4) Clarify the theoretical limitations of such enhanced SAT solvers by studying the corresponding proof systems, which are currently poorly understood. We see great opportunities for fruitful interplay between the fields of proof complexity and SAT solving in this area, as well as between theoretical results and practical implementations. We believe that resolving the questions posed by this project could potentially have a major impact in theoretical computer science, and in the longer term in more applied areas of computer science and mathematics.

Keywords: proof complexity,automated theorem proving,computational complexity,satisfiability,sat solving,trade-offs
Theoretical Foundations and Observational Tests of Inflationary Cosmology (TOI)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Universe sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1493535.0
EU funding (EUR): 1493535.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

Observations of the temperature fluctuations in the cosmic microwave background (CMB) have transformed cosmology into a quantitative science. This revolution has led to a detailed understanding of the geometry and composition of the universe. However, the microphysical origin of the CMB fluctuations remains a mystery. Although quantum-mechanical fluctuations during a early period of inflationary expansion provide a remarkably successful description of the data, a concrete realization of inflation in a fundamental theory of particle physics remains elusive. Moreover, it seems almost certain that the inflationary era involved physics beyond the Standard Model. This is both a challenge and a fantastic opportunity to learn about physics at the highest energy scales from cosmological observations. With the ERC grant I plan to form a group at Cambridge University that will explore both the theoretical foundations and the observational consequences of inflation. A key question that a satisfactory microscopic theory of inflation should answer is why the mass of the inflaton field is much smaller than its natural value. We will search for answers to this question both from the bottom up in effective field theory (EFT) and from the top down in string theory. We will furthermore initiate the first systematic study of large-field inflation, thereby providing the theoretical foundation for inflationary models with observable gravitational waves. To make contact with observations we will then develop an EFT for the inflationary fluctuations as Goldstone bosons of spontaneously broken time-translations. We will compare the predictions of that theory to the latest CMB observations. Finally, we will use the data to pursue two of the central signatures of the physics of inflation: gravitational waves and non-Gaussianity.

Keywords: inflation,theoretical cosmology,cmb
Three-Component Fermi Gas Lattice Experiment (3FLEX)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-08-01
End date: 2016-07-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1469040.0
EU funding (EUR): 1469040.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Understanding the many-body physics of strongly correlated systems has always been a major challenge for theoretical and experimental physics. The recent advances in the field of ultracold quantum gases have opened a completely new way to study such strongly correlated systems. It is now feasible to use ultracold gases as quantum simulators for such diverse systems such as the Hubbard model or the BCS-BEC crossover. The objective of this project is to study a three-component Fermi gas in an optical lattice, a system with rich many-body physics. With our experiments we aim to contribute to the understanding of exotic phases which are discussed in the context of QCD and condensed matter physics.

Keywords: strongly interacting fermions,three-component fermi gas,optical lattices,bcs-bec crossover,resonance superfluidity
Beacons in the Dark (BEACON)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Universe sciences
Countries involved: Germany,Italy
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-09-01
End date: 2016-08-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1892376.0
EU funding (EUR): 1892376.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

BEACON aims at performing an ambitious multi-disciplinary (optical, radio astronomy and theoretical physics) study to enable a fundamentally improved understanding of gravitation and space-time. For almost a century Einstein's general relativity has been the last word on gravity. However, superstring theory predicts new gravitational phenomena beyond relativity. In this proposal I will attempt to detect these new phenomena, with a sensitivity 20 times better than state-of-the-art attempts. A successful detection would take physics beyond its current understanding of the Universe. These new gravitational phenomena are emission of dipolar gravitational waves and the violation of the strong equivalence principle (SEP). I plan to look for them by timing newly discovered binary pulsars. I will improve upon the best current limits on dipolar gravitational wave emission by a factor of 20 within the time of this proposal. I also plan to develop a test of the Strong Equivalence Principle using a new pulsar/main-sequence star binary. The precision of this test is likely to surpass the current best limits within the time frame of this proposal and then keep improving indefinitely with time. This happens because this is the cleanest gravitational experiment ever carried out. In order to further these goals, I plan to build the ultimate pulsar observing system. By taking advantage of recent technological advances in microwave engineering (particularly sensitive ultra-wide band receivers) digital electronics (fast analogue-to-digital converters and digital spectrometers) and computing, my team and me will be able to greatly improve the sensitivity and precision for pulsar timing experiments and exploit the capabilities of modern radio telescopes to their limits. Pulsars are the beacons that will guide me in these new, uncharted seas.

Keywords: binary pulsars,test of general relativity,alternative theories of gravity
Arithmetic of algebraic surfaces (SURFARI)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Mathematical foundations
Countries involved: Germany
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-10-01
End date: 2016-09-30
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 899846.8
EU funding (EUR): 899846.8
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

This research proposal concerns a fundamental problem in the theory of al- gebraic surfaces which poses one of the most important challenges in order to understand the inner structure of algebraic surfaces beyond the current state of the art. Our research team will investigate in detail the structure of curves on algebraic surfaces which is captured in the Neron-Severi group. In general, it is a widely open problem to decide which shapes this group can take. By de- signing innovative and unconventional approaches at the borderline of arithmetic and geometry, we aim at groundbreaking results that will spark deep insights into the inner structures of algebraic surfaces and lay cornerstones for future investigations.

Keywords: picard number,k3 surface,enriques surface,surface of general type,moduli
Unraveling new physics on high-performance computers (NEWPHYSICSHPC)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Fundamental constituents of matter
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-05-01
End date: 2018-04-30
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 977571.0
EU funding (EUR): 977571.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Quarks are bound together by the strong nuclear force as described by QCD. Due to confinement quarks and gluons are not detected in experiments but particles which are complicated bound states. Simulations allow for relating the bound state properties to those of the underlying quarks. The calculation is performed by constructing a discrete four dimensional space-time lattice and then solving the QCD equations of motion on high performance computers (e.g. graphics cards cluster or IBM BG/Q at Edinburgh) New physics will be discovered in terms of discrepancies between Standard Model (SM) predictions and experimental measurements. A hint for a discrepancy between theory and experiment and therefore new physics exists for the anomalous magnetic moment of the muon. I will implement a new approach to its computation which will provide reliable predictions from first principles and which will substantiate or rebut the apparent tension. Also, my newly developed method for analytically predicting contributions (quark-disconnected diagrams) to the muon anomalous moment which are very hard to compute numerically will be extended to other processes relevant for understanding non-perturbative physics (e.g. K->pi pi) and for SM-tests (neutron EDM). The LHCb experiment at CERN, Switzerland, has recently started taking data for processes that are particularly sensitive to new physics. To interpret the experimental data one needs theory-predictions that can only be provided by lattice QCD. Here properties of flavor-changing neutral current decays of particles containing one b-quark and one light quark will be computed. Next to a large scale simulation of K->pi decays, algorithms will be developed and cut-off effects computed analytically in order to reduce the uncertainty in the lattice computation of Vus, an element of the CKM-matrix. An UV-fixed point in the non-linear sigma model will be searched with lattice simulations on graphics cards.

Keywords: lattice qcd,beyond standard model,lhc,cern
Advanced materials and devices for hybrid spin coherent technologies (ASCENT)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom,United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-12-01
End date: 2017-06-30
Duration (months): 67.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1875550.0
EU funding (EUR): 1875550.0
Participants: 2
Project status: CLOSED

The property of spin has been harnessed in an array of revolutionary technologies, from nuclear spins in magnetic resonance imaging to spintronics in magnetic recording media. Nature at its deepest level is quantum mechanical and spins are capable of demonstrating superposition and entanglement, yet such coherent properties have not yet been fully exploited. The exquisite control over materials fabrication and spin control techniques has reached a maturity where spintronics can go beyond purely classical effects and begin to fully exploit these quantum properties. Potential applications range from quantum information processors, including the transmission of quantum information via itinerant electron spins, single microwave photon storage within spin ensembles, and a new generation of sensors exploiting entanglement to yield fundamentally enhanced precision. The aim of ASCENT is to develop materials and devices in which electron and nuclear spins exhibit long-lived coherent quantum behaviour and interactions which can be harnessed for technological purposes. Specifically, ASCENT will exploit in range of condensed matter systems from molecular materials to silicon-based structures, the possibility of transiently generating and removing electron spins in the vicinity of nuclear spins. The project represents a new and promising direction for the development of coherent interactions between spins in materials, and one which builds upon foundations I have established in my earlier work, often supported by preliminary investigations. Strong interactions with theory throughout this project will provide insights to refine and improve the experiments. In addition to direct applications in quantum technologies, the insights and methodology gained will be fed back into the wider field of spin resonance, including dynamic nuclear polarisation, structural biology and medical imaging.

Keywords: electron spin,nuclear spin,magnetic resonance,esr,epr,nmr,quantum control,quantum memory,quantum information,spin transport,triplet states,molecular synthesis,fullerenes,silicon
CO2VOLC: Quantifying the global volcanic CO2 cycle (CO2VOLC)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Earth system science
Countries involved: United Kingdom,United Kingdom,Italy
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2017-12-31
Duration (months): 72.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1720999.6
EU funding (EUR): 1720999.6
Participants: 5
Project status: CLOSED

Global climate change induced by anthropogenic emissions of CO2 is currently a major issue facing humanity, but uncertainties in the magnitude and rate of climate change remain, and deterministic predictions are beyond our capacity. In this context, the study of how the geochemical carbon cycle established a relatively narrow band of variability in atmospheric CO2 concentrations over the last 400 ka is of great interest. However, large uncertainties in both weathering and volcanic CO2 fluxes prevent a truly quantitative assessment of this critical cycle. Measuring the global volcanic CO2 flux, GVFCO2, would allow us to better understand the likely impact large eruptions have had in Earth’s history, and constrain the natural vs. anthropogenic CO2 flux. We propose a truly innovative project to address head on the problem of determining GVFCO2. We will create new, compact instruments, utilising cutting-edge laser technologies, which will allow us to measure volcanic CO2, H2O, SO2 and HCl fluxes from aircraft. By flying below and through the volcanic plumes created by ~50 active volcanoes (~10% of all active volcanoes) of the Banda-Sunda arc in Indonesia, the majority of which have never been measured before, we will dramatically increase our understanding of GVFCO2 and geochemical cycles for all these species. Measuring the volcanic emissions from an entire subduction arc is an unprecedented experiment, providing insight into the slab and mantle heterogeneity and volatile mass balance. Perhaps the most important breakthrough that we will pursue will be the determination of the 37Cl/35Cl ratio from HCl emitted from each volcano. This ratio reflects the mantle/slab source proportion, and allows the input rate of volatiles to the mantle to be measured. The application of innovative new technology we propose here will produce ground-breaking insights into volcanology, isotope and gas geochemistry, volatile cycles, subduction and climate change.

Keywords: global carbon cycle,global water cycle,subduction processes,volcanic degassing,atmospheric measurements,airborne measurements
Nanoporous Membranes for High Throughput Rare Event Bio-analysis (NANOP)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Physical and Analytical Chemical sciences
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2012-01-01
End date: 2017-09-30
Duration (months): 69.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1497620.0
EU funding (EUR): 1497620.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

A novel analytical platform is proposed to detect and identify DNA at low concentration in a high throughput manner at the single molecule level. The potential impact of this research is significant and will result in single molecule detection becoming a mainstream tool within the medical diagnostics and analytical communities. 'Rare event' detection plays an important role in the early detection of illnesses and disease (e.g. cancers and bacterial infections). Using analytical technologies that exist today it is almost impossible to detect a single DNA strand within a standard blood sample (of a few mLs) within a reasonable time frame. The technology that will be developed within the current project will allow for such detection to be performed both rapidly and efficiently. If successful, the core technology described will become a mainstream analytical tool that will be of significant benefit within biomedical laboratories, hospitals, and clinics around the world. Specifically, chemical and semiconductor processing methods will be developed to define a novel approach to high throughput DNA quantification at the single molecule level. This innovative technology will function by introducing biological samples in micro- and nanofluidic chips and using electric fields to direct DNA strands through nanometre-sized pores on a membrane. Detection and sizing of the individual DNA strands (labelled with fluorophores) is then accomplished using confocal fluorescence spectroscopy. This new approach to high-throughput, single molecule DNA analysis harnesses the strengths of both analytical spectroscopy and silicon fabrication technology to allow the creation of hybrid devices in which molecular quantification can be realized. I expect this work to have major impact and open up new possibilities for nano-analytical tools in the chemical and biological sciences.

Keywords: single molecule spectroscopy,nanofluidics,nanopores,rare-event diagnostics,microfluidics,fluorescence spectroscopy
Hybrid Photovoltaic Energy Relays (HYPER)

Framework: FP7 — Ideas
Programme: European Research Council
Theme: European research council
Destination: Starting grants
Action type: Support for frontier research (ERC)
Panel: Condensed matter physics
Countries involved: United Kingdom
Call:  (ERC-2011-StG_20101014, 2011)
Start date: 2011-11-01
End date: 2016-10-31
Duration (months): 60.0
Total project cost (EUR): 1870337.0
EU funding (EUR): 1870337.0
Participants: 1
Project status: CLOSED

Photovoltaic (PV) solar cells promise to be a major contributor to our future energy supply, and the current silicon and thin film photovoltaic industry is growing at a fast rate (25 to 80% pa). Despite this however, only 10 to 20 GW of the total 15TW global energy demand is met by PV generated power. The ramping up in production and affordable global uptake of solar energy requires a significant reduction in materials and manufacture costs and furthermore, a solar industry on the TW scale must be based on abundant and preferably non-toxic materials. The challenge facing the photovoltaic industry is cost effectiveness through much lower embodied energy. Plastic electronics and solution-processable inorganic semiconductors can revolutionise this industry due to their ease of processing (low embodied energy), but a significant increase in performance is required. To enable this jump in performance in a timely manner, incremental improvements and optimisations (evolutionary approaches) are unlikely to provide sufficiently rapid advances and a paradigm shift, such as that described in this project, is thus required. HYPER is lead by Henry Snaith, a prominent young scientist developing hybrid and organic based solar cells. The project will create a new series of hybrid solar cells, based on photoactive semiconductor nanocrystals and light absorbing polymer semiconductors. At the core of the research is the synthesis of new semiconductor and metallic nanostructures, combined with device development and advanced spectroscopic characterisation. The central operational principle to be developed is long range energy transfer of photoexcitons from the bulk of the semiconductors to the charge generating material interfaces, maximising charge generation in these thin film composites Combined with this, advanced photonic structuring of the photoactive layers, and the introduction of nano-plasmonic light harvesting components will represent a new paradigm for hybrid solar cells.

Keywords: dye-sensitized,organic semiconductors,solar cells