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SUMMARY:IGM Colloquium: The physics of crushing and smashing: Cascades and
  cataclysmic changes
DTSTART:20181106T121500
DTEND:20181106T131500
DTSTAMP:20260428T043929Z
UID:56da3b3b081a9556676f19883d3a75999678f32301d2cc7ac3c5274c
CATEGORIES:Conferences - Seminars
DESCRIPTION:Prof. Shmuel Rubinstein\, Physics of Complex Systems Laborator
 y\, Harvard University\nAbstract:\nMany of the big problems we are facing 
 involve far from equilibrium systems that entail a cataclysmic change. Cli
 mate\, turbulence and earthquakes\, developmental biology\, aging death\, 
 and even evolution. These phenomena are rare (sometimes occurring only onc
 e) and are entirely irreversible. While understanding the physics of such 
 irreversible processes is of both fundamental and practical importance\, t
 hese problems also pose unique challenges. These challenges\, as they mani
 fest in turbulence\, were beautifully portrayed by Richardson:\n“Big whi
 rls have little whirls that feed on their velocity\, and little whirls hav
 e lesser whirls and so on to viscosity”\nLewis Fry Richardson (1922)\n\n
 In his short verse\, Richardson captures the essence of the turbulent casc
 ade—the conveyance of kinetic energy across scales that underlies the un
 iversal dynamics of turbulent flows. Indeed\, such conveyance of important
  physical quantities (energy\, stress\, frustration and even information) 
 down and up a vast range of scales underlines the dynamics of many systems
 . The same applies to how a multi-contact frictional interface will form a
 nd break or how correlated defect structures determine the strength of a s
 pace-rocket\, how an intricate network of creases will form when we crumpl
 e a thin sheet or when soda can is smashed. The challenge in understanding
  these systems is in capturing the events as they occur\, keeping up with 
 the dynamics on all scales and at all times. Here\, I will review our work
  on several key irreversible system and introduce the new tools we develop
 ed to address their unique evolution and discuss the interesting physics w
 e learned. Specifically\, I will discuss: turbulence in the collision of v
 ortex rings\, splashing\, friction\, fracture and failure.\n\nBio:\nRubins
 tein's interests lie in understanding the non-linear dynamics of hard\, so
 ft and liquid systems. Rubinstein received a Ph.D. degree in Physics from 
 the Hebrew University\, Jerusalem\, in 2010. At Harvard\, Professor Rubins
 tein is developing a program in soft matter physics that focuses on comple
 x interfaces. His interests are in experimental\, out of equilibrium\, and
  non-linear physics. Specifically\, his lab focuses on developing cutting-
 edge experimental techniques to investigate systems where interfacial form
 ation\, deformation and collapse dominate the dynamics. He collaborates cl
 osely with theorists to explore three main thrusts: (1) disordered solid a
 nd liquid systems\, (2) nonlinear instabilities in solids and liquids and 
 (3) development of bacterial biofilms. Each of these systems of interest h
 ighlights a beautiful\, yet poorly understood phenomenon that Rubinstein s
 eeks to elucidate\, including: How do things slide? How do things break? W
 hy do soft materials age? How does paper crumple? Why do drops splash? How
  do micron-size bacteria engineer huge biofilms.
LOCATION:MED 0 1418 https://plan.epfl.ch/?room==MED%200%201418
STATUS:CONFIRMED
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