Nonlinear waves: solitons, boxes and balls
Professor Junkichi Satsuma
Aoyama Gakuin University, Tokyo
Abstract
Since John Scott Russell's discovery of the “great wave of translation” or soliton on the Union Canal near Edinburgh in 1834, the mathematical sciences have continued to explore the rich structure behind such nonlinear waves. In this public lecture a brief historical review of the subject will be given leading up to a description of the modern internationally active research topic of box and ball systems which exhibit “ultradiscrete” versions of Scott Russell's soliton. These simple dynamical systems are accessible to non-experts and the lecture will contain an interactive demonstration of their dynamical laws with audience participation.
The speaker is a leading expert on solitons and one of the inventors of ultradiscrete systems.
Anyone is welcome to attend, no ticket is needed.
Links
Kaichi Watanabe, article in Japanese
John Scott Russell scottrussell.mpg
Recreating the Great Wave of Translation
