Nonlinear interactions of multiple wave fronts

Date: February 5, 2024

Time: 4:00PM - 5:00PM

Location: BLOC 117

Speaker: John Anderson

Description: Abstract: Several physical phenomena of interest exhibit the nonlinear interaction of different kinds of waves. In this talk, I will discuss two examples with recent mathematical progress. The first example is motivated by situations in optics where there are multiple possible speeds of light in a crystal. The second example is motivated by a desire to understand certain singularities (shocks) which are commonplace in various astrophysical situations. In both cases, the emphasis will be on the important role played by analyzing the geometry of the various wave fronts.