Analysis of Nonlinear Partial Differential Equations
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Oxford
Department Name: Mathematical Institute
Abstract
Partial differential equations (PDEs) are equations that relate the partial derivatives, usually with respect to space and time coordinates, of unknown quantities. They are ubiquitous in almost all applications of mathematics, where they provide a natural mathematical description of phenomena in the physical, natural and social sciences, often arising from fundamental conservation laws such as for mass, momentum and energy. Significant application areas include geophysics, the bio-sciences, engineering, materials science, physics and chemistry, economics and finance. Length-scales of natural phenomena modelled by PDEs range from sub-atomic to astronomical, and time-scales may range from nanoseconds to millennia. The behaviour of every material object can be modelled either by PDEs, usually at various different length- or time-scales, or by other equations for which similar techniques of analysis and computation apply. A striking example of such an object is Planet Earth itself.Linear PDEs are ones for which linear combinations of solutions are also solutions. For example, the linear wave equation models electromagnetic waves, which can be decomposed into sums of elementary waves of different frequencies, each of these elementary waves also being solutions. However, most of the PDEs that accurately model nature are nonlinear and, in general, there is no way of writing their solutions explicitly. Indeed, whether the equations have solutions, what their properties are, and how they may be computed numerically are difficult questions that can be approached only by methods of mathematical analysis. These involve, among other things, precisely specifying what is meant by a solution and the classes of functions in which solutions are sought, and establishing ways in which approximate solutions can be constructed which can be rigorously shown to converge to actual solutions. The analysis of nonlinear PDEs is thus a crucial ingredient in the understanding of the world about us.As recognized by the recent International Review of Mathematics, the analysis of nonlinear PDEs is an area of mathematics in which the UK, despite some notable experts, lags significantly behind our scientific competitors, both in quantity and overall quality. This has a serious detrimental effect on mathematics as a whole, on the scientific and other disciplines which depend on an understanding of PDEs, and on the knowledge-based economy, which in particular makes increasing use of simulations of PDEs instead of more costly or impractical alternatives such as laboratory testing.The proposal responds to the national need in this crucial research area through the formation of a forward-looking world-class research centre in Oxford, in order to provide a sharper focus for fundamental research in the field in the UK and raise the potential of its successful and durable impact within and outside mathematics. The centre will involve the whole UK research community having interests in nonlinear PDEs, for example through the formation of a national steering committee that will organize nationwide activities such as conferences and workshops.Oxford is an ideal location for such a research centre on account of an existing nucleus of high quality researchers in the field, and very strong research groups both in related areas of mathematics and across the range of disciplines that depend on the understanding of nonlinear PDEs. In addition, two-way knowledge transfer with industry will be achieved using the expertise and facilities of the internationally renowned mathematical modelling group based in OCIAM which, through successful Study Groups with Industry, has a track-record of forging strong links to numerous branches of science, industry, engineering and commerce. The university is committed to the formation of the centre and will provide a significant financial contribution, in particular upgrading one of the EPSRC-funded lectureships to a Chair
Publications
Chrusciel P
(2009)
On the global structure of the Pomeransky-Senkov black holes
Knezevic D
(2009)
BAIL 2008 - Boundary and Interior Layers
Koch G
(2009)
Liouville theorems for the Navier-Stokes equations and applications
in Acta Mathematica
Herrmann M
(2009)
Self-similar solutions with fat tails for a coagulation equation with nonlocal drift
in Comptes Rendus. Mathématique
Ball J
(2010)
ICOMAT - Olson/ICOMAT
Peschka D
(2010)
Self-similar rupture of viscous thin films in the strong-slip regime
in Nonlinearity
Chrúsciel P
(2010)
On the global structure of the Pomeransky-Senkov black holes
in Advances in Theoretical and Mathematical Physics
Kristensen J
(2010)
Characterization of Generalized Gradient Young Measures Generated by Sequences in W1,1 and BV
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Chen G
(2010)
A hyperbolic system of conservation laws for fluid flows through compliant axisymmetric vessels
in Acta Mathematica Scientia
Burke S
(2010)
An Adaptive Finite Element Approximation of a Variational Model of Brittle Fracture
in SIAM Journal on Numerical Analysis
Melcher C
(2010)
Thin-Film Limits for Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert Equations
in SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis
Niethammer B
(2010)
A rigorous derivation of mean-field models for diblock copolymer melts
in Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations
Chrusciel P
(2010)
A Uniqueness Theorem for Degenerate Kerr-Newman Black Holes
in Annales Henri Poincaré
Ball J
(2010)
Nematic Liquid Crystals: From Maier-Saupe to a Continuum Theory
in Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals
Barrett J
(2010)
Finite element approximation of kinetic dilute polymer models with microscopic cut-off
in ESAIM: Mathematical Modelling and Numerical Analysis
Herrmann M
(2010)
Action Minimising Fronts in General FPU-type Chains
in Journal of Nonlinear Science
Herrmann M
(2010)
On selection criteria for problems with moving inhomogeneities
Menon G
(2010)
Dynamics and self-similarity in min-driven clustering
in Transactions of the American Mathematical Society
Chrusciel P
(2010)
On smoothness of black saturns
in Journal of High Energy Physics
Condette N
(2010)
Spectral approximation of pattern-forming nonlinear evolution equations with double-well potentials of quadratic growth
in Mathematics of Computation
Ammari H
(2010)
Progress on the strong Eshelby's conjecture and extremal structures for the elastic moment tensor
in Journal de Mathématiques Pures et Appliquées
Kristensen J
(2010)
Boundary Regularity in Variational Problems
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Chen G
(2010)
Vanishing viscosity limit of the Navier-Stokes equations to the euler equations for compressible fluid flow
in Communications on Pure and Applied Mathematics
Jones GW
(2010)
Modelling apical constriction in epithelia using elastic shell theory.
in Biomechanics and modeling in mechanobiology
Ball J
(2010)
Local minimizers and planar interfaces in a phase-transition model with interfacial energy
in Calculus of Variations and Partial Differential Equations
Ammari H
(2010)
Enhanced Resolution in Structured Media
in SIAM Journal on Applied Mathematics
Dai S
(2010)
Crossover in coarsening rates for the monopole approximation of the Mullins-Sekerka model with kinetic drag
in Proceedings of the Royal Society of Edinburgh: Section A Mathematics
BARRETT J
(2011)
EXISTENCE AND EQUILIBRATION OF GLOBAL WEAK SOLUTIONS TO KINETIC MODELS FOR DILUTE POLYMERS I: FINITELY EXTENSIBLE NONLINEAR BEAD-SPRING CHAINS
in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Owhadi H
(2011)
Localized Bases for Finite-Dimensional Homogenization Approximations with Nonseparated Scales and High Contrast
in Multiscale Modeling & Simulation
Kreisbeck C
(2011)
Thin-film limits of functionals on A-free vector fields
Capdeboscq Y
(2011)
Numerical Computation of approximate Generalized Polarization Tensors
BARRETT J
(2011)
EXISTENCE OF GLOBAL WEAK SOLUTIONS TO DUMBBELL MODELS FOR DILUTE POLYMERS WITH MICROSCOPIC CUT-OFF
in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Ortner C
(2011)
Stress-based atomistic/continuum coupling: a new variant of the quasicontinuum approximation
in International Journal for Multiscale Computational Engineering
Carozza M
(2011)
Higher differentiability of minimizers of convex variational integrals
in Annales de l'Institut Henri Poincaré C, Analyse non linéaire
Niethammer B
(2011)
Optimal Bounds for Self-Similar Solutions to Coagulation Equations with Product Kernel
in Communications in Partial Differential Equations
Paicu M
(2011)
Energy Dissipation and Regularity for a Coupled Navier-Stokes and Q-Tensor System
in Archive for Rational Mechanics and Analysis
Niethammer B
(2011)
Self-similar solutions with fat tails for a coagulation equation with diagonal kernel
in Comptes Rendus. Mathématique
Paicu M
(2011)
Global Existence and Regularity for the Full Coupled Navier-Stokes and Q -Tensor System
in SIAM Journal on Mathematical Analysis
Makridakis C
(2011)
A priori error analysis of two force-based atomistic/continuum models of a periodic chain
in Numerische Mathematik
NEGRI M
(2011)
QUASI-STATIC CRACK PROPAGATION BY GRIFFITH'S CRITERION
in Mathematical Models and Methods in Applied Sciences
Chrusciel P
(2011)
Ghost points in inverse scattering constructions of stationary Einstein metrics
in General Relativity and Gravitation
| Description | This was a broad grant designed to help consolidate research on nonlinear partial differential equations in the UK. In particular the Oxford Centre for Nonlinear PDE was founded as a result of the grant and is now a leading international centre. As regards specific research advances, these were in various areas of applications of PDE, for example to fluid and solid mechnaics, liquid crystals, electromagnetism, and relativity. |
| Exploitation Route | Through publications and consultation with current and former members of OxPDE. |
| Sectors | Aerospace Defence and Marine Chemicals Construction Electronics Energy Environment |
| URL | https://www0.maths.ox.ac.uk/groups/oxpde |
| Description | Advanced Investigator Grant |
| Amount | € 2,006,998 (EUR) |
| Funding ID | 291053 |
| Organisation | European Research Council (ERC) |
| Sector | Public |
| Country | Belgium |
| Start | 03/2012 |
| End | 03/2017 |