In Berger's classification of Riemannian holonomy groups there are several infinite families and two exceptional cases: the groups Spin(7) and G_2. This thesis is mainly concerned with 7-dimensional manifolds with holonomy G_2. A metric with holonomy contained in G_2 can be defined in terms of a torsion-free G_2-structure, and a G_2-manifold is a 7-dimensional manifold equipped with such a structure. There are two known constructions of compact manifolds with holonomy exactly G_2. Joyce found examples by resolving singularities of quotients of flat tori. Later Kovalev found different examples by gluing pairs of exponentially asymptotically cylindrical (EAC) G_2-manifolds (not necessarily with holonomy exactly G_2) whose cylinders match. The result of this gluing construction can be regarded as a generalised connected sum of the EAC components, and has a long approximately cylindrical neck region. We consider the deformation theory of EAC G_2-manifolds and show, generalising from the compact case, that there is a smooth moduli space of torsion-free EACG_2-structures. As an application we study the deformations of the gluing construction for compact G_2-manifolds, and find that the glued torsion-free G_2-structures form an open subset of the moduli space on the compact connected sum. For a fixed pair of matching EAC G_2-manifolds the gluing construction provides a path of torsion-free G_2-structures on the connected sum with increasing neck length. Intuitively this defines a boundary point for the moduli space on the connected sum, representing a way to 'pull apart' the compact G_2-manifold into a pair of EAC components. We use the deformation theory to make this more precise. We then consider the problem whether compact G_2-manifolds constructed by Joyce's method can be deformed to the result of a gluing construction. By proving a result for resolving singularities of EAC G_2-manifolds we show that some of Joyce's examples can be pulled apart in the above sense. Some of the EAC G_2-manifolds that arise this way satisfy a necessary and sufficient topological condition for having holonomy exactly G_2. We prove also deformation results for EAC Spin(7)-manifolds, i.e. dimension 8 manifolds with holonomy contained in Spin(7). On such manifolds there is a smooth moduli space of torsion-free EAC Spin(7)-structures. Generalising a result of Wang for compact manifolds we show that for EAC G_2-manifolds and Spin(7)-manifolds the special holonomy metrics form an open subset of the set of Ricci-flat metrics.

<p>Unlike matrix rank, hypermatrix rank is not lower semi-continuous. As a result, optimal low rank approximations of hypermatrices may not exist. Characterizing hypermatrices without optimal low rank approximations is an important step in implementing algorithms with hypermatrices. The main result of this thesis is an original coordinate-free proof that real 2 by 2 by 2 tensors that are rank three do not have optimal rank two approximations with respect to the Frobenius norm. This result was previously only proved in coordinates. Our coordinate-free proof expands on prior results by developing a proof method that can be generalized more readily to higher dimensional tensor spaces. Our proof has the corollary that the nearest point of a rank three tensor to the second secant set of the Segre variety is a rank three tensor in the tangent space of the Segre variety. The relationship between the contraction maps of a tensor generalizes, in a coordinate-free way, the fundamental relationship between the rows and columns of a matrix to hypermatrices. Our proof method demonstrates geometrically the fundamental relationship between the contraction maps of a tensor. For example, we show that a regular real or complex tensor is tangent to the 2 by 2 by 2 Segre variety if and only if the image of any of its contraction maps is tangent to the 2 by 2 Segre variety. </p>

In this thesis, we investigate the Strominger system on non-Kähler manifolds. We will present a natural generalization of the Strominger system for non-Kähler hermitian manifolds M with c₁(M) = 0. These manifolds are more general than balanced hermitian manifolds with holomorphically trivial canonical bundles. We will then consider explicit examples when M can be realized as a principal torus fibration over a Kähler surface S. We will solve the Strominger system on such construction which also includes manifolds of topology (k−1)(S²×S⁴)#k(S³×S³). We will investigate the anomaly cancellation condition on the principal torus fibration M. The anomaly cancellation condition reduces to a complex Monge-Ampère-type PDE, and we will prove existence of solution following Yau’s proof of the Calabi-conjecture [Yau78], and Fu and Yau’s analysis [FY08]. Finally, we will discuss the physical aspects of our work. We will discuss the Strominger system using α'-expansion and present a solution up to (α')¹-order. In the α'-expansion approach on a principal torus fibration, we will show that solving the anomaly cancellation condition in topology is necessary and sufficient to solving it analytically. We will discuss the potential problems with α'-expansion approach and consider the full Strominger system with the Hull connection. We will show that the α'-expansion does not correctly capture the behaviour of the solution even up to (α')¹-order and should be used with caution.

This work includes various proofs of cohomology vanishing for logarithmic de Rham complex of unitary local system defined on an open algebraic complex manifold, which has a projective compactification by normal crossing divisor

This thesis concerns the relationship of submanifold geometry, in both the smooth and discrete sense, to representation theory and the theory of integrable systems. We obtain Lie theoretic generalisations of the transformation theory of projectively and Lie applicable surfaces, and M�obius-flat submanifolds of the conformal n-sphere. In the former case, we propose a discretisation. We develop a projective approach to centro-ane hypersurfaces, analogous to the conformal approach to submanifolds in spaceforms. This yields a characterisation of centro-ane hypersurfaces amongst M�obius-flat projective hypersurfaces using polynomial conserved quantities. We also propose a discretisation of curved flats in symmetric spaces. After developing the transformation theory for this, we see how Darboux pairs of discrete isothermicnets arise as discrete curved flats in the symmetric space of opposite point pairs. We show how discrete curves in the 2-sphere fit into this framework.

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This thesis will take a look at the roots of modern-day information geometry and some applications into statistical modeling. In order to truly grasp this field, we will first provide a basic and relevant introduction to differential geometry. This includes the basic concepts of manifolds as well as key properties and theorems. We will then explore exponential families with applications of probability distributions. Finally, we select a few time series models and derive the underlying geometries of their manifolds.

A manifold is a Hausdorff topological space that is locally Euclidean. We will define the difference between a Riemannian manifold and a pseudo-Riemannian manifold. We will explore how geodesics behave on pseudo-Riemannian manifolds and what it means for manifolds to be geodesically complete. The Hopf-Rinow theorem states that,“Riemannian manifolds are geodesically complete if and only if it is complete as a metric space,” [Lee97] however, in pseudo-Riemannian geometry, there is no analogous theorem since in general a pseudo-Riemannian metric does not induce a metric space structure on the manifold. Our main focus will be on a family of manifolds referred to as a generalized plane wave manifolds. We will prove that all generalized plane wave manifolds are geodesically complete.

"Submitted September 2002 ... Amended September 2004." / Bibliography: p. 152-157. / xvi, 157 p. ; 30 cm. / Title page, contents and abstract only. The complete thesis in print form is available from the University Library. / Thesis (Ph.D.)--University of Adelaide, School of Mathematical Sciences, Discipline of Pure Mathematics, 2004

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