Applied and Interdisciplinary Mathematics Seminar

University of Michigan

Winter 2009
Friday, 20 March, 3:10-4:00pm, 1084 East Hall

Lattices versus PDEs

Michael Herrmann

Oxford Centre for Nonlinear PDE, UK


Abstract

Lattice ODEs have a continuous time but a discrete space variable, and can hence be regarded as discrete PDEs. Despite their seeming simplicity they possess a very complex dynamics and behave sometimes completely different than their continuous counterparts. In this talk we discuss simple 1D Hamiltonian lattices and present an overview on typical questions and problems that arise when passing to a continuum scale. In particular, we emphasize the role of strong oscillations and outline the connections to modulation theory, nonlinear conservation laws, and thermodynamics.