Mathematical theory of internal waves

Tue Nov 5, 2024 4:00 p.m.—5:00 p.m.
Exterior of Sheffield-Sterling-Strathcona Hall featuring a stone carving of Yale's coat of arms and motto

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Seminar: 
Analysis

Event time: 
Tuesday, November 5, 2024 - 4:00pm

Location: 
KT 207

Speaker: 
Jian Wang

Speaker affiliation: 
I.H.É.S.

Event description: 
Internal waves are a central topic in oceanography and the theory of rotating fluids. They are gravity waves in density-stratified fluids. In a two-dimensional aquarium, the velocity of linear internal waves can concentrate on certain attractors. Locations of internal wave attractors are related to periodic orbits of homeomorphisms of the circle, given by a nonlinear “chess billiard” dynamical system. This relation provides a surprising “quantum–classical correspondence” in fluid dynamics. In this talk, I will explain connections between homeomorphisms of circles, spectral theory, and internal wave dynamics. This talk is based on joint work with Semyon Dyatlov and Maciej Zworski.

Research Area(s): 
Analysis & PDE