Nonlinear Dynamics at Manchester
Problems that involve fluids and nonlinear systems are an inherent part of our everyday life. Turbulence, for example, is probably the most important and yet least understood problem in classical physics. The flow in rivers, the atmosphere or out of the kitchen tap is typically turbulent. Detailed calculation of these flows is not possible even using modern supercomputers, but the problem is not a lack of knowledge of the equations of motion - more fundamentally, the origins of the disordered motion are ill-understood.
In recent years some important advances have been made in the subject using ideas from nonlinear dynamical systems and chaos. The ideas involve developing simple models which mimic some aspects of turbulent flow but which also contain universal features. Hence the disordered motion in a fluid can be related to the erratic triggering of a laser or the complicated motion of a rotating pendulum. Moreover the simple models which describe this situation can be solved using PC's so a deeper insight into the dynamics can be found.
The Nonlinear Dynamics Group at Manchester is involved in combined experimental and theoretical research on topics ranging from nonlinear pendulums to flow in complex geometries. Simple but well-controlled experiments are used to explore new ideas from dynamical systems theory and the results are related to the equations of motion where possible. A vital part in the process has been the development of novel signal processing techniques with colleagues in the Mathematics Department.