Nonlinear science with special emphasis on dissipative pattern forming systems, nonlinear nonequilibrium phenomena in fluid-mechanical systems, convection of simple and complex fluids, turbulence, and morphological instabilities. Our general interest is in nonlinear science with special emphasis on dissipative pattern-forming systems and fully developed turbulence. Currently our research is focused on the experimental and theoretical investigation of spatiotemporal chaos in thermal convection, vibration of smectic liquid crystal layers, morphological instabilities in the directional solidification of alloys, the geomorphological structure at the mid ocean ridges, and the investigation of the Lagrangian properties of fully developed turbulence. In this active field of physics there is a very close contact between experimentalists and theorists. This enables us to compare our experimental results with both rigorous theory and general theoretical models.
More info is available at the group's homepage .
William Bertsche, Ilarion Melnikov. Joel Brock, Applied and Enineering Physics, Cornell, vibrating smectic layers. Werner Pesch, Theoretical Physics II, University of Bayreuth, Germany, thermal convection and spatio-temporal chaos. Sarah Tebbens, Department of Marine Science, St. Petersburg, Florida, geomorphological structure of the mid ocean ridges.