UBC Math Department Colloquium: Kenneth McLaughlin
Topic
Asymptotic analysis of Riemann-Hilbert problems, from the behavior of N! to the theory of soliton gases
Speakers
Details
I will use the remarkable Stirling’s formula for N! to introduce the asymptotic analysis of Riemann-Hilbert problems. Then I will describe the kinetic theory of soliton gases. To accomplish this, I will explain by example some integrable nonlinear pdes, multi-soliton solutions, and what is the mathematical meaning of “the formation of a soliton gas”. There will be movies. Oh yes, there will be movies!