Math Sciences Colloquia - Fall 2008

The Center for Applied Mathematics and the IGERT Nonlinear Systems program are sponsoring the Mathematical Sciences Graduate Student Seminar Series. We hope that this seminar series will become a fixture of Cornell's interdisciplinary programs. As part of these seminars in the mathematical sciences, Cornell graduate students will give informal one-hour talks about their research to fellow graduate students as well as professors.

The idea behind these seminars is twofold: (1) To foster interactions between graduate students in various disciplines for both academic and social purposes. (2) To allow students the opportunity to present and discuss their work with a broad group of their peers in a manner that is not currently available at Cornell. No one is going to demand or expect a polished presentation. The seminar is intended for work in progress. Students should not feel shy about presenting their work, as there are many people who will be interested in hearing about it. It's a chance for graduate students to get to know each other, practice their speaking ability, offer constructive criticism, etc.

This seminar series is a natural extension of the interdiscplinary efforts of CAM and the IGERT program. We hope you'll inform your students and colleagues of this seminar series, and we also invite you to provide suggestions for student speakers. These suggestions or expressions of interest to give a presentation should be e-mailed to Sasha Gutfraind (ag362@cornell.edu) or Igor Gorodezky (igor@cam.cornell.edu).

 

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• Monday, Sept. 8
  Jeffrey Pang, CAM Grad Student
  Time: 1:20 p.m. with pizza at 1:15 p.m.
  Place: 657 Rhodes Hall, conference room
  
  Title: Fast Methods for Mountain passes
  
  Abstract: In computational chemistry and differential equations, we often seek a
  critical point of a function by finding a "mountain pass" between two
  given points: a connecting path along which the maximum value is
  minimized. We describe an algorithm that maintains lower bounds on the
  optimal value by keeping the two points in separate level set components.
  We prove convergence, even in the nonsmooth case, and local superlinear
  convergence in the smooth finite-dimensional case.
  

• Wednesday, Sept. 17
  
  Viktor Ten, Fulbright Visiting Scholar
  Time: 12:20 p.m. with pizza at 12:00 p.m.
  Place: 657 Rhodes Hall, conference room
  
  Title: Design of robust control systems in a class of structurally stable maps
  
  Abstract: Short intro to Robust Control containing several terms and definitions,
  such as uncertainties, their kinds, mathematical description, problem
  statement, classical approaches to the solution. Short intro to
  structurally stable maps from catastrophe theory which are used by
  offered research. Offered approach is presented on the example of
  control of second order plants. Cases of integrators in series, CCF and
  Jordan form are considered. As an example the Matlab simulation of the
  equations of dynamics of aircrafts's isolated angular motion without and
  with offered control is given.
  
  Bonus: A short presentation about Kazakhstan, its geography, nature,
  sights, traditions, and development.
  
  
• Thursday, Sept. 25
  
  Bernd Krauskopf, University of Bristol
  Time: 12:00 p.m. with pizza at 12:00 p.m.
  Place: 657 Rhodes Hall, conference room
  
  Title: Applied Nonlinar Dynamics from Lasers to Aircraft
  
  Abstract: This informal talk will discuss how techniques from nonlinear dynamics, especially the continuation of solutions and their bifurcations, can be used in two real-world applications: delay-coupled lasers (which are an example of coupled nonlinear oscillators) and dynamics of aircraft on the ground. The talk will concentrate on common themes and be as non-technical as is practical.