Chaos, Then and Now

April 5, 3:30pm - 4:30pm
Mānoa Campus, Wat. 112

Department of Physics and Astronomy Colloquium: Dr. Robert Shaw, University of Hawaii at Manoa, to speak on "Chaos, Then and Now."

Abstract:
"Chaos" in common language means without form. However in nonlinear dynamics "chaos" refers to a specific type of low-dimensional nonperiodic behavior. A given system might be quite predictable, but the same system with a slightly changed parameter might swing wildly and unpredictably. Even in simple mechanical systems, determinism does not imply predictability.

Although appreciation of this fact goes back at least to Poincare, general understanding in the physics community is much more recent. After a historical introduction and overview, we'll present a series of examples, showing "chaos" manifest in simple oscillators, a dripping faucet, and even in ordinary arithmetic. A few open questions will be addressed, in particular the relation of classical chaos to quantum mechanics.


Ticket Information
Free

Event Sponsor
Physics and Astronomy, Mānoa Campus

More Information
Dr. Peter Gorham, 808-956-9157, gorham@phys.hawaii.edu, http://www.phys.hawaii.edu/indico/conferenceDisplay.py?confId=304

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