When
1 – 2 p.m., March 25, 2026
Where
Brown Bag
Speaker: Edward McDugald
Title: Patterns, Phase, and Coarse Descriptions
Abstract: his talk will explore how complicated dynamical behavior can often be understood through simpler “coarse” descriptions, in which fast oscillations or fine spatial structure are summarized by a few slowly varying variables. I will draw on examples involving nonlinear oscillators and stripe-forming systems to illustrate how notions like phase, local wavevector, and defect structure emerge, and how they can be connected to both analysis and computation. The emphasis will be on pictures and intuition rather than technical detail, with the exact balance of examples adjusted to the interests of the audience.