Mathematical Physics
Seminar

February Schedule

Organizer: Joel L. Lebowitz
lebowitz@math.rutgers.edu


Please join us for cookies and coffee in Hill 705 kitchen at 11:40am every Thursday before each seminar



Date: Thursday February 7, @ 12:00PM, Hill 705

Speaker: Thomas Chen, Princeton University

Title: On Quantum Charge Transport in Random Media

Abstract: In this talk, we discuss some recent results addressing the long-time dynamics of charged quantum mechanical particles in a weakly disordered random medium. We especially focus on the derivation of Boltzmann equations in a kinetic scaling limit of the quantum dynamics. This will be addressed both in the one-particle, and in the fermionic manybody framework. In connection with the latter, we report on a recent joint work with I. Sasaki, and on a current collaboration with I. Rodnianski.


There will be a brown bag lunch from 1-2pm. Please join us.


Date: Thursday February 7, @ 2:00PM, Hill 705

Speaker: Roger Nussbaum, Rutgers University

Title: Inequivalent Measures of Noncompactness and Generalizations of the Krein-Rutman Theorem

Abstract: The classical Krein-Rutman theorem considers a compact, bounded linear map L:X-->X, where X is a Banach space. Under the assumption that L(C) is contained in C, where C is a closed, total cone in X, the K-R theorem asserts that L has an eigenvector u in C with eigenvalue r equal to the spectral radius of L. We shall describe some generalizations of this theorem to the case of maps f:C-->C which may be nonlinear or noncompact. Even if f is linear, open questions remain when f is noncompact. Our work leads us to questions about "measures of noncompactness". The Kuratowski measure of noncompactness on a Banach space (X,|| . ||) assigns to each bounded subset S of X a nonnegative real number a(S) defined by a(S):={d>0: S can be covered by a finite number of subsets of diameter Speaker: Jose A. Carrillo de la Plata, University of Barcelona, Spain

Date/Time/Place: Thursday, February 14, 2008 @ 12:00pm, Hill 705

Title: Contractive Probability Metrics for Dissipative Boltzmann Equations

Abstract: We will discuss the contractivity for the inelastic Boltzmann equation in the maxwellian approximation using Wassertein and Fourier-based metrics. As a consequence, we will discuss the nonlinear asymptotic stability and decay rates for equilibria due to thermostats and homogeneous cooling states. and decay rates for equilibria due to thermostats and homogeneous cooling states.


THERE WILL BE NO SEMINAR THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 21 AND 28, 2008