SFB 1173: Wave phenomena: analysis and numerics

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Waves fascinate scientists in general and mathematicians in particular. Two of our senses – seeing and hearing – are based on the propagation of light and sound waves, the human heartbeat is driven by depolarization waves, and most modern communication is based on electromagnetic waves. Waves are everywhere, and understanding their behavior leads us to understand nature. For mathematicians there is a second reason to study waves: The beauty and diversity of the related mathematics itself. Wave propagation is described by a number of intriguing equations with beautiful properties, and the mathematics of these equations has brought about many celebrated results. The goal of this Collaborative Research Centre (CRC) is to analytically understand, numerically simulate, and eventually manipulate wave propagation under realistic scenarios by intertwining analysis and numerics. Our research focuses on typical wave phenomena such as the emergence of standing and traveling waves or wave fronts, oscillations and resonances, dispersion, reflection, refraction and scattering of waves. The outstanding potential of our CRC lies in the close cooperation of specialists from analysis and numerics. Five project leaders from optics and photonics, biomedical engineering, and applied geophysics provide an interface to applications. This unique interdisciplinary research environment has already led to substantial results that have advanced the knowledge in the field. In addition, a wealth of exciting research questions has emerged which will be answered in the coming funding period. The integrated Research Training Group enables promising doctoral and postdoctoral researchers to benefit from this advantageous cooperation, and it fosters the early career of a new generation of mathematicians.