Statistical Description of the Dynamics of Large and Disordered Systems

A special session in

Fourth International Conference on Dynamical Systems and Differential Equations

Wilmington, NC, USA, May 24-27, 2002

 

Organizers:

Introduction:

This special session focuses on the dynamics of energy transfer among fundamental modes of large, nonlinear one-dimensional systems.  A key theme is the development of dynamical statistical mechanics theories for this energy transfer and their confrontation with calculations and direct numerical simulations on simple models with rich behavior.  Two models which will feature prominently are the Fermi-Pasta-Ulam model, consisting of a one-dimensional chain of particles with simple nonlinear spring coupling, and the Burgers-Hopf model, a one-dimensional continuous system described by a PDE with a simple quadratic nonlinearity.

List of Confirmed Speakers: