Forthcoming events in this series


Mon, 22 May 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Global symmetry-breaking bifurcation in a model for 2-phase lipid-bilayer vesicles - analysis and computation

Tim Healey
(Cornell University)
Abstract

We study a model for lipid-bilayer membrane vesicles exhibiting phase separation, incorporating a phase field together with membrane fluidity and bending elasticity. We prove the existence of a plethora of equilibria in the large, corresponding to symmetry-breaking solutions of the Euler-Lagrange equations. We also numerically compute a special class of such solutions, namely those possessing icosahedral symmetry. We overcome several difficulties along the way. Due to inherent surface fluidity combined with finite curvature elasticity, neither the Eulerian (spatial) nor the Lagrangian (material) description of the model lends itself well to analysis. This is resolved via a singularity-free radial-map description, which effectively eliminates the grossly under-determined mid-plane deformation. We then use well known group-theoretic selection techniques combined with global bifurcation methods to obtain our results.

Mon, 15 May 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Weak-Strong Uniqueness in Fluid Dynamic

Emil Wiedemann
(Leibniz Universität Hannover)
Abstract

Various concepts of weak solution have been suggested for the fundamental equations of fluid dynamics over the last few decades. However, such weak solutions may be non-unique, or at least their uniqueness is unknown. Nevertheless, a conditional notion of uniqueness, the so-called weak-strong uniqueness, can be established in various situations. We present some recent results, both positive and negative, on weak-strong uniqueness in the realm of incompressible and compressible fluid dynamics. Applications to the convergence of numerical schemes will be indicated.

Mon, 08 May 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Clustered spike patterns for biological reaction-diffusion systems

Matthias Winter
(Brunel Univeristy)
Abstract

Results on the existence and stability of clustered spike patterns for biological reaction‐diffusion systems with two small diffusivities will be presented. In particular we consider a consumer chain model and the Gierer‐Meinhardt activator-inhibitor system with a precursor gradient. A clustered spike pattern consists of multiple spikes which all approach the same limiting point as the diffusivities tend to zero. We will present results on the asymptotic behaviour of the spikes including their shapes, positions and amplitudes. We will also compute the asymptotic behaviour of the eigenvalues of the system linearised around a clustered spike pattern. These systems and their solutions play an important role in biological modelling to account for the bridging of lengthscales, e.g. between genetic, nuclear, intra‐cellular, cellular and tissue levels, or for the time-hierarchy of biological processes, e.g. a large‐scale structure, which appears first, induces patterns on smaller scales. This is joint work with Juncheng Wei.
 

Mon, 01 May 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Scalable bifurcation analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations and variational inequalities

Patrick Farrell
(Oxford)
Abstract

Computing the solutions $u$ of an equation $f(u, \lambda) = 0$ as the parameter $\lambda$ is varied is a central task in applied mathematics and engineering. In this talk I will present a new algorithm, deflated continuation, for this task.

Deflated continuation has three main advantages. First, it is capable of computing disconnected bifurcation diagrams; previous algorithms only aimed to compute that part of the bifurcation diagram continuously connected to the initial data. Second, its implementation is extremely simple: it only requires a minor modification to any existing Newton-based solver. Third, it can scale to very large discretisations if a good preconditioner is available.

Among other problems, we will apply this to a famous singularly perturbed ODE, Carrier's problem. The computations reveal a striking and beautiful bifurcation diagram, with an infinite sequence of alternating pitchfork and fold bifurcations as the singular perturbation parameter tends to zero. The analysis yields a novel and complete taxonomy of the solutions to the problem, and demonstrates that a claim of Bender & Orszag (1999) is incorrect. We will also use the algorithm to calculate distinct local minimisers of a topology optimisation problem via the combination of deflated continuation and a semismooth Newton method.

Mon, 24 Apr 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

The hunting of the twisted hedgehog

Epifanio Virga
(University of Pavia)
Abstract

In the mathematical theory of liquid crystals, a hedgehog is a universal equilibrium solution for Frank's elastic free-energy functional. It is characterized by a radial defect for the nematic director, reminiscent of the way spines are arranged in the spiny mammal. For certain choices of Frank's elastic constants, the free energy stored in a ball subject to radial boundary conditions for the director is minimized by a hedgehog with its defect in the centre of the ball. For other choices of Frank's constants, it is known that a radial hedgehog cannot be a minimizer for this variational problem. We shall gather evidence supporting the conjecture that a "twisted" hedgehog takes the place of a radial hedgehog as an energy minimizer (and we shall not fail to say in which sense it is "twisted"). We shall also show that a twisted hedgehog often accompanies, unseen, a radial hedgehog, as its virtual double, ready to beat its energy as a certain elastic anisotropy is reached.

Mon, 06 Mar 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Ricci Flow as a mollifier

Peter Topping
(University of Warwick)
Abstract


A familiar technique in PDE theory is to use mollification to adjust a function controlled in some weak norm into a smooth function with corresponding control on its $C^k$ norm. It would be extremely useful to be able to do the same sort of regularisation for Riemannian metrics, and one might hope to use Ricci flow to do this. However, attempting to do so throws up some fundamental problems concerning the well-posedness of Ricci flow. I will explain some recent developments that allow us to use Ricci flow in this way in certain important cases. In particular, the Ricci flow will now allow us to adjust a `noncollapsed’ 3-manifold with a lower bound on its Ricci curvature through a family of such manifolds, without disturbing the Riemannian distance function too much, and so that we instantly obtain uniform bounds on the full curvature tensor and all its derivatives. These ideas lead to the resolution of some long-standing open problems in geometry.

No previous knowledge of Ricci flow will be assumed, and differential geometry prerequisites will be kept to a minimum.

Joint work with Miles Simon.
 

Mon, 20 Feb 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Between incompressible and compressible flows. A case of regular solutions.

Piotr B. Mucha
(University of Warsaw)
Abstract

I will talk about connections between the compressible and incompressible Navier-Stokes systems. In case of the compressible model, as the bulk (volume) viscosity is very high, the divergence of the velocity becomes small, in the limit it is zero and we arrive at the case of incompressible system. An important role here is played by the inhomogeneous version of the classical Navier-Stokes equations. I plan to discuss analytical obstacle appearing within the analysis. The considerations are done in the framework of regular solutions in Besov and Sobolev spaces. The results which will be discussed are joint with Raphael Danchin from Paris.

Mon, 06 Feb 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

An Energy Identity for Sequences of Immersions

Huy Nguyen
(Queen Mary University London)
Abstract

In this talk, we will discuss sequences of immersions from 2-discs into Euclidean with finite total curvature where the Willmore energy converges to zero (a minimal surface). We will show that away from finitely many concentration points of the total curvature, the surface converges strongly in $W^{2,2}$.  Furthermore, we have an energy identity for the total curvature, at the concentration points after a blow-up procedure we show that there is a bubble tree consisting of complete non-compact (branched) minimal surfaces of finite total curvature which are quantised in multiples of 4\pi. We will also apply this method to the mean curvature flow, showing that sequences of surfaces that are locally converging to a self-shrinker in L^2 also develop a bubble tree of complete non-compact (branched) minimal surfaces in Euclidean space with finite total curvature quantised in multiples of 4\pi. 

Mon, 30 Jan 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Stable surfaces with constant mean curvature in 3-manifolds admitting a Killing vector field

Miguel Manzano
(King's College)
Abstract

In this talk we will discuss some properties of Schrödinger operators on parabolic manifolds, and particularize them to study the stability operator of a parabolic surface with constant mean curvature immersed in a 3-manifold that admits a Killing vector field. As an application, we will determine the range of values of H such that some homogeneous 3-manifolds admit complete parabolic stable surfaces with constant mean curvature H. Time permitting, we will also discuss some related area and first-eigenvalue estimates for the stability operator of constant mean curvature graphs in such 3-manifolds.

Mon, 23 Jan 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Linearisation of multi-well energies

Mariapia Palombaro
(University of Sussex)
Abstract

Linear elasticity can be rigorously derived from finite elasticity in the case of small loadings in terms of \Gamma-convergence. This was first done by Dal Maso-Negri-Percivale in the case of one-well energies with super-quadratic growth. This has been later generalised to different settings, in particular to the case of multi-well energies where the distance between the wells is very small (comparable to the size of the load). I will discuss recent developments in the case when the distance between the wells is arbitrary. In this context linear elasticity can be derived by adding to the multi-well energy a singular higher order term which penalises jumps from one well to another. The size of the singular term has to satisfy certain scaling assumptions which turn out to be optimal. (This is joint work with Alicandro, Dal Maso and Lazzaroni.) 

Mon, 16 Jan 2017

16:00 - 17:00
L4

A survey of discrete analogues in harmonic analysis

Kevin Hughes
(University of Bristol)
Abstract

In this talk we will motivate and discuss several problems and results in harmonic analysis that involve some arithmetic or discrete structure. We will focus on pioneering work of Bourgain on discrete restriction theorems and pointwise ergodic theorems for arithmetic sets, their modern developments and future directions for the field.

Mon, 05 Dec 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Parabolic problems with critical growth

Anna Verde
Abstract

I will discuss on the existence and regularity results for the heat flow of the so called H-systems and for more general parabolic p-laplacian problems with critical growth.

Mon, 28 Nov 2016

15:30 - 16:30
L4

The Calderón problem for the fractional Laplacian

Mikko Salo
(University of Jyväskylä)
Abstract

We show global uniqueness in an inverse problem for the fractional Schrödinger equation: an unknown potential in a bounded domain is uniquely determined by exterior measurements of solutions. We also show global uniqueness in the partial data problem where the measurements are taken in an arbitrary open subset of the exterior. The results apply in any dimension $\geq 2$ and are based on a strong approximation property of the fractional equation that extends earlier work. This special feature of the nonlocal equation renders the analysis of related inverse problems radically different from the traditional Calderón problem. This is a joint work with T. Ghosh (HKUST) and G. Uhlmann (Washington).
 

Mon, 28 Nov 2016
14:15
L3

Asymptotic behaviour for equidispersive solutions of the Boltzmann equation

Alessia Nota
(Bonn)
Abstract

In this talk we consider particular solutions of the Boltzmann equation which have the form $f (x,v,t) = g (v − M (t)x,t)$ where $M (t) = A(I + tA)^{−1}$ with the matrix $A$ describing a shear flow or a dilatation or a combination of both. These solutions are known as equidispersive solutions. We will show that, for different choices for the matrix A and for different homogeneities of the collision kernel, we obtain different long time asymptotics for the corresponding equidispersive solutions. In particular we will focus on the case of simple shear flow and prove rigorously the existence of self-similar solutions with exponentially increasing internal energy.

Mon, 21 Nov 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Variational integrals with linear growth

Miroslav Bulíček
(Charles University in Prague)
Abstract
We investigate the properties of certain elliptic systems leading, a priori, to solutions that belong to the space of Radon measures. We show that if the problem is equipped with a so-called Uhlenbeck structure, then the solution can in fact be understood as a standard weak solution, with one proviso: analogously as in the case of minimal surface equations, the attainment of the boundary value is penalized by a measure supported on (a subset of) the boundary, which, for the problems under consideration here, is the part of the boundary where a Neumann boundary condition is imposed. Finally, we will connect such elliptic systems with certain problems in elasticity theory – the limiting strain models.
Mon, 14 Nov 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Twisted X-Rays, Orbital Angular Momentum and the Determination of Atomic Structure

Richard James
(University of Minnesota)
Abstract

We find exact solutions of Maxwell's equations that are the precise analog of plane waves, but in the case that the translation group is replaced by the Abelian helical group. These waves display constructive/destructive interference with helical atomic structures, in the same way that plane waves interact with crystals. We show how the resulting far-field pattern can be used for structure determination. We test the method by doing theoretical structure determination on the Pf1 virus from the Protein Data Bank. The underlying mathematical idea is that the structure is the orbit of a group, and this group is a subgroup of the invariance group of the differential equations. Joint work with Dominik Juestel and Gero Friesecke. (Acta Crystallographica A72 and SIAM J. Appl Math).

Mon, 07 Nov 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Equilibrium measure for a nonlocal dislocation energy

Lucia Scardia
(University of Bath)
Abstract

In this talk I will present a recent result on the characterisation of the equilibrium measure for a nonlocal and non-radial energy arising as the Gamma-limit of discrete interacting dislocations.

Mon, 31 Oct 2016

16:30 - 17:30
L4

High Ericksen number and the dynamical creation of defects in nematics

Arghir Zarnescu
(Basque Center for Applied Mathematics)
Abstract


We consider the Beris-Edwards model of liquid crystal dynamics. We study a non-dimensionalisation and regime suited for the study of defect patterns, that amounts to a combined high Ericksen and high Reynolds  number regime. 
We identify some of the flow mechanisms responsible for the appearance of localized gradients that increase in time.
This is joint work with Hao Wu (Fudan).
 

Mon, 24 Oct 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Chern-Gauss-Bonnet formulas for singular non-compact manifold

Reto Buzano
(Queen Mary University London)
Abstract

A generalisation of the classical Gauss-Bonnet theorem to higher-dimensional compact Riemannian manifolds was discovered by Chern and has been known for over fifty years. However, very little is known about the corresponding formula for complete or singular Riemannian manifolds. In this talk, we explain a new Chern-Gauss-Bonnet theorem for a class of manifolds with finitely many conformally flat ends and singular points. More precisely, under the assumptions of finite total Q curvature and positive scalar curvature at the ends and at the singularities, we obtain a Chern-Gauss-Bonnet type formula with error terms that can be expressed as isoperimetric deficits. This is joint work with Huy Nguyen. 

Mon, 17 Oct 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

The geometry of constant mean curvature surfaces in Euclidean space

Giuseppe Tinaglia
(King's College London)
Abstract

In this talk I will begin by reviewing classical geometric properties of constant mean curvature surfaces, H>0, in R^3. I will then talk about several more recent results for surfaces embedded in R^3 with constant mean curvature, such as curvature and radius estimates. Finally I will show applications of such estimates including a characterisation of the round sphere as the only simply-connected surface embedded in R^3 with constant mean curvature and area estimates for compact surfaces embedded in a flat torus with constant mean curvature and finite genus. This is joint work with Meeks.

Mon, 10 Oct 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Homogenization of thin structures in nonlinear elasticity - periodic and non-periodic

Igor Velcic
(University of Zagreb)
Abstract

We will give the results on the models of thin plates and rods in nonlinear elasticity by doing simultaneous homogenization and dimensional reduction. In the case of bending plate we are able to obtain the models only under periodicity assumption and assuming some special relation between the periodicity of the material and thickness of the body. In the von K\'arm\'an regime of rods and plates and in the bending regime of rods we are able to obtain the models in the general non-periodic setting. In this talk we will focus on the derivation of the rod model in the bending regime without any assumption on periodicity.

Mon, 13 Jun 2016

16:00 - 17:00
L4

Enhancement of propagation in reaction-diffusion equations by a line of fast diffusion

Laurent Dietrich
(OxPDE, University of Oxford)
Abstract

we study a new mechanism of reaction-diffusion involving a line with fast diffusion, proposed to model the influence of transportation networks on biological invasions. 
We will be interested in the existence and uniqueness of traveling waves solutions, and especially focus on their velocity. We will show that it grows as the square root of the diffusivity on the line, generalizing and showing the robustness of a result by Berestycki, Roquejoffre and Rossi (2013), and provide a characterization of the growth ratio thanks to an hypoelliptic (a priori) degenerate system. 
Finally we will take a look at the dynamics and show that the waves attract a large class of initial data. In particular, we will shed light on a new mechanism of attraction which enables the waves to attract initial data with size independent of the diffusion on the line : this is a new result, in the sense than usually, enhancement of propagation has to be paid by strengthening the assumptions on the size of the initial data for invasion to happen.