The picture represents a "finite energy foliation" of the 3-dimensional manifold S1 x S2 with its standard contact structure. Finite energy foliations are ways of filling 3-dimensional space with smooth surfaces that are solutions to a differential equation arising in string theory.
Such pictures can help mathematicians gain insight into problems in dynamical systems and in topology - for example, an important strand in research by Chris Wendl (UCL Mathematics) has been using finite energy foliations to try and answer the question, "how many different 4-dimensional shapes could this 3-dimensional shape be the boundary of?
One can use this particular picture to deduce that the answer is exactly one.
Credit: Chris Wendl (UCL Mathematics)
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- This image can be reproduced freely providing the source is credited.
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EU referendum: UCL Provost's message to students and staff
In light of the UK's vote to leave the European Union, UCL President & Provost Professor Michael Arthur assures UCL students and staff from EU countries that they will continue to be as valued and as welcome as before. Professor Arthur also confirms that there will be no immediate changes to arrangements for EU staff and students.
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Professor Ivan Parkin - Dean, UCL Faculty of Mathematical and Physical Sciences
"I fully support the aims of the Friends of Out@UCL campaign. I have personal experience of the need for such a campaign and the difficulties that the LGBTQ+ community face." Read more...
Snapshots from Space History
Online exhibition of historic space photos from the faculty's planetary science archives.