Math Club Event: Professor Grover (UNL Engineering)
Wednesday, April 20, 4 pm, in Avery 19 (lower level)
with Professor Grover (UNL Engineering)
Title: Chaos is a friend of mine: Dynamical systems theory enables design of deep space missions and fluid robots
Abstract: The geometrical framework of dynamical systems theory was originally developed by Poincare to study the complicated (chaotic) dynamics of the three bodies moving under mutual gravitational forces. In this talk, we will first discuss the application of this theory to explain the (sometimes puzzling) motion of celestial bodies, as well as to design non-intuitive fuel-efficient space missions to moon and beyond. A typical particle meanders through the phase space of an N-body problem by travelling on invariant manifolds that connect different equilibria and periodic orbits. These invariant manifolds, created by the competing gravitational forces, act as `interplanetary superhighways'. Next, we will discuss the far reaching generalizations of this framework in the context of fluid mechanics, where we extend this theory to infinite dimensions and explain the complex dynamics of a new class of robotic fluid systems known as `active nematics’.
Pizza and Drinks will be served at 3:50 pm!
Math Club Event: Isabel Safarik (UNL Mathematics)
Wednesday, April 27, 4 pm, in Avery 19 (lower level)
with Isabel Safarik (UNL Mathematics)
Title: Exploring the Navier Stokes Equations and their consequences
Abstract: As an undergraduate, I wondered how people went from being a calculus student to doing research in mathematics. I've learned that sometimes, all it takes is a problem to inspire you. In this talk, we will explore the (problematic) set of equations that inspired me--the Navier Stokes Equations. Additionally, I will discuss some of my current interests and projects involving non-local (peridynamic) operators and computations in Matlab.