Seminars and Colloquiums
for the week of October 20, 2008
Speakers:
Professor Mikhail Lifshits, St. Petersburg State University, Monday
Ms. Rachel Leander, Monday
Ms. Rachel Leander, Tuesday
Mr. Timothy Clayton, Tuesday
Mr. Gerardo Chacon, Wednesday
Associate Professor James Conant , Wednesday
Assistant Professor Steve Wise, Thursday
Mr. Zhiqiang Li, Friday
Professor Florin Boca, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, Friday
Monday, October 20, 2008
PROBABILITY SEMINAR
TIME: 10:10 – 11:00 a.m.
ROOM: Ayres 209A
SPEAKER: Professor Mikhail Lifshits, St. Petersburg State University
TITLE: “Finite Rank Approximation of Tensor-Type and Additive Random Fields”
ABSTRACT: We consider a random field of tensor product type X and investigate the quality of approximation (both in the average and in the probabilistic sense) to X by the processes of rank n minimizing the quadratic approximation error. Most interesting results are obtained for the case when the dimension of parameter set tends to infinity. Call "cardinality" the minimal n providing a given level of approximation accuracy. By applying Central Limit Theorem to (deterministic) array of covariance eigenvalues, we show that, for any fixed level of relative error, this cardinality increases exponentially (a phenomenon often called "intractability" or "dimension curse") and find the explosion coefficient. We also show that the behavior of the probabilistic and average cardinalities is essentially the same in the large domain of parameters.
HOST: Jan Rosinski
DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS AND COMPUTATIONAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR
TIME: 3:35 – 4:25 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 309A
SPEAKER: Ms. Rachel Leander
TITLE: “Optimal Control of Kuramoto Oscillators”
ABSTRACT: The Kuramoto model is a system of coupled nonlinear ordinary differential equations. A network of oscillators governed by these equations is capable of exhibiting collective synchronization. Variations of this model have found numerous applications to biology and physics. We use optimal control theory to find the most efficient way a network of Kuramoto oscillators can achieve a prescribed degree of order.
Tuesday, October 21, 2008
MATH ECOLOGY SEMINAR
TIME: 10:10 – 10:50 a.m.
ROOM: Ayres 205
SPEAKER: Ms. Rachel Leander
TITLE: “Disease Models with Multiple Pathogens”
DOCTORAL DEFENSE
TIME: 2:15 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 205
SPEAKER: Mr. Timothy Clayton
TITLE: “Optimal Control of Epidemic Models involving Rabies and West Nile Viruses”
His committee consists of Professors: Lenhart (chair), Collins, Protopopescu, and Gross.
Wednesday, October 22, 2008
ANALYSIS SEMINAR
TIME: 3:35 – 4:30 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 309B
SPEAKER: Mr. Gerardo Chacon
TITLE: “Carleson Measures for Besov Spaces”
ABSTRACT: This talk is based on a paper by Arcozzi, Rochberg and Sawyer in which they found a characterization of the Carleson measures for a class of weighted Besov spaces by using discrete tools.
TOPOLOGY SEMINAR
TIME: 3:35 – 4:25 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 209A
SPEAKER: Associate Professor James Conant
TITLE: “A gentle introduction to the homology of Out(F_n) Part I”
ABSTRACT: We aim to give the necessary background to understand the current state of knowledge of the rational homology of Out(F_n).
Thursday, October 23, 2008
JR COLLOQUIUM
TIME: 3:40 – 4:30 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 214
SPEAKER: Assistant Professor Steve Wise
TITLE: “Modeling Diffuse Interface Motion in Materials”
ABSTRACT: The concept of an interface, what J.W. Gibbs called a "transition zone," is subtle but important for characterizing the structure and properties of multiphase materials. The diffuse interface method is a widely-used, though controversial tool for characterizing and computing the motion of interfaces in both materials and fluids. In this talk the speaker presents a gentle introduction to the diffuse interface method, contrasts it with some sharp interface methods, and shows some applications of the method in the study of tumor growth, phase transformations, and fluid dynamics.
Friday, October 24, 2008
ORAL SPECIALTY EXAMINATION
TIME: 10:00.
ROOM: Ayres 309B
SPEAKER: Mr. Zhiqiang Li
His committee consists of Professors: Xiong (chair), Chen, Rajput, and Rosinski.
MATHEMATICS COLLOQUIUM
TIME: 3:35 – 4:25 p.m.
ROOM: Ayres 214
SPEAKER: Professor Florin Boca, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign
TITLE: “Farey Fractions, Kloosterman Sums, and Geometric Probability”
ABSTRACT: The distribution of Farey fractions (roots of unity) plays an important role in a number of important problems in mathematics. We plan to discuss connections with geometric probability problems concerning statistical properties of the lengths of trajectories in billiards with pockets in squares and honeycombs. Some of these results are joint work with R. Gologan and A. Zaharescu.
HOST: Remus Nicoara
If you are interested in giving or arranging a talk for one of our seminars or colloquiums, please review our calendar.
If you have questions, or a date you would like to confirm, please contact Dr. Steve Wise.
Week of:
Past notices:
Seminars from 2007-2008 academic year
Seminars from 2006-2007 academic year