Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Mixing

Dynamical Systems, Chaos, and Mixing: Mixing: Together with Julio M. Ottino and Paul B. Umbanhowar, we investigate dynamical systems as related to mixing, pattern formation, and segregation. Much of the work has been related to granular flows. The image at left shows how the unstable manifolds trace the segregation pattern for particles of two different sizes in a square tumbler. Other research explores new approaches for three-dimensional systems and for mixing via cutting and shuffling. The video below zooms in to show the fractal structure resulting from cutting and shuffling a hemispherical shell. Recent research focus on the problem of pollutant capture in a chaotic flow field with applications to carbon capture and oil spill cleanup. See publications here.