MAC Seminars
Since January 2004, a series of seminars has been organized jointly by the research groups MAC1, MAC2 and MAC3. Topics for the seminars include scientific computing, analysis and systems and control theory. Any scientific work related to these topics is welcome.
The meetings are informal and intended for anyone in MAC who is interested.
The basic format of the meetings starting this fall is:
- One speaker of 45-50 minutes, with a coffee/cookies before and after. In exceptional cases we also have two speakers.
- Informal presentations: interruptions and discussions are encouraged.
- Presentations need not concern finished work: work in progress or work that is stalled is also welcome.
- All work, from "numerical experiments only" or "modelling only" to numerical, pure or systems theoretical analysis, is welcome as long as it relates to a MAC theme.
- All presentation media from blackboard to laptop are welcome.
Speakers will normally not be known long in advance, however the dates/times are already reserved (see below). Once known, the titles will be available on this site.
The contact persons are: Kees Oosterlee, Daan Crommelin, Jens Rademacher.
Also note the even more informal MAS work seminars.
Information for speakers
- The MAC seminars lasts 1-2 hours, including 1-2 speakers (with a coffee break in between).
- The format is informal: discussion and interruptions are encouraged.
- It is recommended that speakers shoot for roughly 45 minutes, which allows ample time for discussion and a break for coffee. In any case the presentation should not exceed 1 hour.
- The lecture room includes a blackboard, overhead projector, data projector (beamer), and TV/VCR. If additional equipment is needed, please inform one of the organizers.
- For traveling to CWI there are directions and maps.
Have a look at the past MAS seminars from 2004 till 2009.
Spring 2010
Date: 6 January 2010
Time: 11.30-12.30h
Room: Z009
Speaker: Thomas Christen, ABB Corporate Research, Theoretical Physics, Baden, Switzerland (visiting Ute),
Title: Entropy production principles for Electric Arc Modeling
Abstract: It is shown how various aspects of electric arc physics in high voltage gas circuit breakers can be modeled in the framework of entropy production rate optimization. First, the working principle of a self-blast circuit breaker is introduced. Secondly, various optimization principles are critically discussed. Finally, it is shown how arc radiation and radiation induced material ablation can be described in the framework of entropy production.
Date: 2 February 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: L120
Speaker: Bert Kappen, RU Nijmegen
Title: KL control theory and decision making under uncertainty
Abstract: KL control theory consists of a class of control problems for which the control computation can be solved as a graphical model inference problem. In this talk, we show how to apply this theory in the context of a delayed choice task and for collaborating agents. We first introduce the KL control framework. Then we show that in a delayed reward task when the future is uncertain it is optimal to delay the timing of your decision. We show preliminary results on human subjects that confirm this prediction. Subsequently, we discuss two player games, such as the stag-hunt game, where collaboration can improve or worsten as a result of recursive reasoning about the opponents actions. The Nash equilibria appear as local minima of the optimal cost to go, but may disappear when monetary gain decreases. This behaviour is in agreement with experimental findings in humans. We subsequently extend the setting to delayed rewards and show how cooperation develops as a result of recursive reasoning. Suboptimal cooperation arise as local minima of the objective function.
Date: 8 February 2010
Time: 11.30-12.30h
Room: L120
Speaker: Sasa Dujko, Institute of Physics, University of Belgrade, Serbia (visiting Ute)
Title: Non-equilibrium transport of electrons and positrons in neutral gases
Abstract: Advancements in modern day technology associated with non-equilibrium low-temperature magnetized plasma discharges to particle detectors, and from positron traps to medical diagnostics techniques such as Positron Emission Tomography demand the most accurate modeling of the underlying charged particle transport processes involved. In order to meet this demand, the groups at the James Cook University in Townsville (Australia) and Institute of Physics in Belgrade (Serbia) have undertaken a program to understand the kinetic behavior of charged particle swarms under the combined action of electric and magnetic fields in neutral gases. The scope of this program has covered a variety of hydrodynamic and non-hydrodynamic studies of electron and positron transport processes in varying configurations of electric and magnetic fields when non-conservative collisions are operative. Two complementary techniques are developed and employed: a multi-term solution of Boltzmann’s equation and Monte Carlo simulation technique, both adapted to consider the time-dependent hydrodynamic and steady state non-hydrodynamic conditions. New and significant numerical results are presented to highlight the rich and diverse range of kinetic phenomena observed in varying configuration of electric and magnetic fields. In this talk we will discuss the origin and mechanisms for such phenomena, their sometimes paradoxical manifestations and possible physical implications which arise from their explicit use in realistic applications.
Date: 9 February 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: L120
Speaker: Francesco Calogero, University of Rome "La Sapienza" (visiting Jason)
Title: Isochronous dynamical systems, the arrow of time and the definition of deterministic chaos
Abstract: Please see here.
Date: 30 March 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: Joris Bierkens (PhD student of Barry)
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Date: 13 April 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: Ali Abbas, University of Metz (visiting Willem)
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Date: 20 April 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: George Naidis (visiting Ute)
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Date: 27 April 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: Joost Batenburg, newly at CWI!
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Date: 11 May 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: Rob Stevenson, UvA
Title: tba
Abstract: tba
Date: 25 May 2010
Time: 10.30-11.30h
Room: tba
Speaker: Ben Leimkuhler, University Edinburgh
Title: tba
Abstract: tba