Brandeis-Harvard-MIT-Northeastern

JOINT MATHEMATICS COLLOQUIUM


 
Singularity formation for the nonlinear Schrodinger equation

 

Pierre Raphael

Princeton University
 

Harvard University

Thursday, September 28, 2006


 

Talk at 4:30 p.m. in Science Center D

Tea at 4:00 p.m. in the Math Lounge


 
 

Abstract:   I will consider the focusing nonlinear Schrodinger equation iu_t+\Delta u+u|u|^{p-1}=0. This equation is a universal model for the propagation of waves in a nonlinear medium. From the mathematical point of view, it is an infinite dimensional Hamiltonian system with infinite speed of propagation. Of particular interest is the existence of finite time blow up solutions which is known since the 60's, but the existence argument is purely obstructive and does not give any insight into the detailed description of the singularity formation. I will give an overview of the state of the art on this problem. In particular, I will present a series of recent results obtained in collaboration with Frank Merle which allow in some cases an explicit description of the singularity formation.


 

Home Web page:  Alexandru I. Suciu   Comments to:  alexsuciu@neu.edu  
Posted: September 28, 2006    URL: http://www.math.neu.edu/bhmn/raphael06.html