Stefanella Boatto (Federal University of Rio de Janeiro)

Title: Vortex and gravitational modeling : A long journey with a rich mathematical history

Abstract:

Vortex and gravitational dynamics have long fascinating and interwoven histories, both for the modeling and for the different areas of mathematics needed to study the corresponding models. Philosophical questions reside behind the modeling part, as for example how do we define gravity beyond our Euclidean R3 perception?

Are the laws we are so familiar with, universal ? What is the geometry of our universe? As for vortices within the boundary of our Solar systems we witness fascinating images of vortex dynamics. Recent beautiful observations of polygonal configurations of vortices present in the atmosphere of Jupiter and Saturn, and of polygonal jets in the Earth’s atmosphere have revived the interest in the subject.

The seminar will take place in Room S08 at the Faculty of Sciences.