Analysis Seminar

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Effective Dynamics of a Non-Linear Wave Equation

Speaker: Oana Pocovnicu, Imperial College, London

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1302

Date: Thursday, December 1, 2011, 11 a.m.

Synopsis:

We consider the non-linear wave equation on the real line \(iu_t-|D|u=|u|^2u\). Its resonant dynamics is given by the Szego equation, which is a completely integrable non-dispersive non-linear equation. We show that the solution of the wave equation can be approximated by that of the resonant dynamics for a long time. The proof uses the renormalization group method introduced by Chen, Goldenfeld, and Oono in the context of theoretical physics. As a consequence, we obtain growth of high Sobolev norms of certain solutions of the non-linear wave equation, since this phenomenon was already exhibited for the Szego equation.