Modelling and analysis
of phase transitions
and free boundary problems

Special session at
Mathematics and its applications
a joint SIMAI-SMAI-SMF-UMI meeting
Torino, July 3–7, 2006

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Motivation and contents

In the last two decades free boundary problems, and in particular phase transitions have been the subject of a mathematical research having the contribution of either people working in continuum mechanics and thermodynamics as well as by applied mathematicians experts in PDE's. This research activity is still under an intensive progress and these studies aim to explain and describe adequately relevant phenomena like solid-liquid phase transitions or martensitic transformations, involving crucial aspects such us surface tension effects, nucleation, and motion of interfaces. The use of order parameters in the description of the model and the investigation of the related systems of PDE's provides a common basis for developing new mathematical models, problem and tools. The purpose of the session is then stimulating an interdisciplinary discussion on these topics and bringing phase transitions and free boundaries to the attention of the french and italian mathematical communities.

Speakers and program

Organizers