Research › Earthquake

Earthquake

The research develops a new mathematical theory of stochastic nonlinear partial differential equations
to understand and advance the statistical theory of earthquakes. New models that give a better
description of earthquake faults will be found and special solutions (solitons and breathers) that
represent localized earthquakes propagating along the faults are studied. The mathematical seismology
gives a firm foundation for the analysis of earthquake dynamics.
The goal is to understand and predict the ground accelerations in large earthquakes. Recent earthquakes
in Japan, Taiwan, and the United States have provided ground motions that are quite a bit larger than
anticipated from the commonly used ground motion prediction equations. Since the ground motion is
the main cause of damage and deaths in an earthquake the research may lead to better preparedness,
less damage and fewer deaths in large earthquakes whose timing unfortunately is unpredictable.
Papers
 A model for aperiodicity in earthquakes
 Periodicity, chaos and localization in a Burridge–Knopoff model of an earthquake with rate-
and-state friction
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Lectures
 Nonlinear Friction Laws in Earthquake Simulations
 The Burridge-Knopoff model with Dietrich-Ruina friction
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Media

Parallels
Parallels is a short film produced by Dendrite Studios in April of 2011. This piece was shot for the
Intersection competition at the Telus ski and board fest in Whistler, BC.

ShakeOut Scenario Simulation

By R. Graves at SCEC (Southern California Earthquake Center).
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Research › Nanotechnology

Nanotechnology

The effective description of some quantum mechanical systems, far from a classical correspondence,
can be nonlinear. Strongly driven THz intersubband transitions in AlGaAs/GaAs quantum wells are a
good example of such a system and have been shown to exhibit novel nonlinear phenomena. Many-
body effects which cause the nonlinearities become much more prominent in wide quantum wells (300
Angstrom) where intersubband spacing is of the order of 10 meV which is approximately that of the
electron-electron Coulomb interactions. The main signature of the nonlinearities is the dynamic
shielding by the electron gas of the incoming radiation. The screening blue shifts the absorption
peak frequency, by an amount proportional to the intersubband population difference and sheet density,
to the dressed frequency at which collective oscillations of the entire electron gas occur. This
depolarization shift also causes the generation of second-harmonics (super-harmonics) of the drive
frequency when it is at half of the dressed frequency.
Multisubband semiconductor Bloch equations are derived to study the effect of many-body interactions
on the collective response of confined electrons in doped quantum well (QW) heterostructures to
intense far-infrared radiation. For a two-subband system optical bistability is observed and its
parameter range is given. For an asymmetrical three-subband QW interference phenomena occur near
the resonances. The quantum wells when driven at the difference between the ground and second
subband energy undergo first a period-doubling bifurcation, producing a sub-harmonic of the frequency
of the drive. At a stronger amplitude of the drive a Hopf bifurcation occurs which generate a strong
response at a frequency incommensurate with the drive frequency or any natural frequency of the
system.

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The transmission of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an important research subject for public
health. It is now known that airflow plays a large role in transmitting Covid-19. Professor Björn Birnirn
has studied how airflow transmits COVID-19 in confined spaces. He created a model that predicts
transmission rates in any given public space. The results can be used to alter real-life spaces to reduce
COVID-19 infection rates.
At the start of the outbreak of SARS-CoV-2 Coronavirus (COVID-19), it was thought that the virus
mainly spread through coughing and speaking, hence global public health advice to stay 2 metres (6
feet) apart. However, it was later discovered that droplets containing COVID-19 could travel via a
turbulent cloud up to a distance of 7 to 8m when an individual violently coughs or sneezes. Even more
crucially, it has been shown that transmission via small droplets and aerosols (a suspension of particles
dispersed in air or gas) plays a larger role in transmitting the virus. COVID-19 contaminated aerosols
can spread from an infected person simply breathing and can build up in a confined space with poor
ventilation over time. As we begin to return to normal life and indoor public spaces, it is vital to ensure
the transmission of COVID-19 is minimised. Björn Birnir has developed a computer model that
unlocks the door to safer public spaces.

Papers
 Paper in Research Features
 The restaurant
 The restaurant, bus and call center
 Matlab Program
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Turbulence

The research goal is to develop new mathematical tools that open the theory of turbulence up to
theoretical investigations. Great strides are currently being made both in turbulence experiments and
simulations but the new mathematical development will allow theoreticians to compare with both
simulations and experiments and make new predictions useful to both areas.
These developments will eventually have a big effect on technology permitting improvements in
aircraft and car design, more efficient travel in and out of space, less pollution, more fuel efficiency and
greater efficiency of wind turbines and wave energy farms.
Papers
 The Growth of the Noise
 Uniqueness of the Swirling Flow

Lectures
 The Kolmogorov-Obukhov Theory of Turbulence
 The Navier-Stokes Millennium Problem: Laminar versus Turbulent Flow
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Figures

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