The CU Boulder Applied Mathematics Department's Dispersive Hydrodynamics Laboratory investigates nonlinear wave phenomena in fluid-like systems. The key features of systems explored include nonlinearity and wave dispersion, which drive fluid-like dynamics with negligible dissipation. An additional focus of theoretical research involves the nanoscale dynamics of ferromagnets where nonlinearity and dispersion also play fundamental roles. Solitons and dispersive shock waves are typical coherent structures that are generated. The lab excels at tractable experiments described with sophisticated mathematics. Freshman undergraduate students up to postdocs are trained to use the methods of applied mathematics (asymptotics, analysis, numerical methods, modeling) in order to understand experiments designed and built in-house. The Lab has received support from the Colleges of Arts and Sciences and Engineering as well as the National Science Foundation.
Room number: Muenzinger D047
Fall 2020 Lab Members
Example of Current Experimental Research in the Lab:
Experimental investigation of linear and nonlinear periodic interfacial waves in a viscous fluid conduit. Periodic waves are generated by varying the injection rate of dyed, diluted glycerin into a pure glycerin reservoir. Dispersion properties, including arrested wave propagation above a critical injection frequency, are captured.