Deutsch Intern
Mathematics in the Sciences

Areas of Research

The focus of our research is on current issues of mathematical analysis in the fields of calculus of variations and partial differential equations, mainly with applications in the natural and materials sciences.

 

In the calculus of variations we work on

  1. non-convex variational problems and
  2. passages from discrete to continuous systems.

The non-convex variation problems are often driven by applications in the nonlinear theory of elasticity or in the formation of microstructures in shape memory materials. For this, estimates of quasiconvex functions are of interest. In the case of cubic-to-monoclinic phase transformations, triplets of pairwise non-compatible transformation matrices that predict non-trivial microstructure formation were found in the geometric-linear case [CS]. The characterization of symmetric polyconvexity and the example of a quadratic function that is symmetric quasiconvex, but not symmetric polyconvex [BoKS], place classical results of calculus of variations in the context of geometrically linear elasticity theory.

With regard to the existence of solutions for mechanically realistic energies, [BeKS] gives a refinement of the theory of second-gradient models, which is based on the concept of polyconvexity. Applications of shape memory materials can be found in [KPS].

In the transition from discrete to continuous systems, we work on one-dimensional chains of atoms that interact via non-convex potentials that allow for breaks [SSZ, ScSc]. The continuum limit is carried out using Gamma-convergence methods. In recent work, we have been able to allow for external forces [CFS] as well as composite materials [LSS]. Furthermore, it is possible to check experimental results for fracture in heterogeneous nanowires in a passage from discrete to continuous systems [LPS15, LPS17].

New formulas for magnetic forces between very small-spaced bodies were derived from a discrete three-dimensional model [S]. Stochastic homogenization of non-convex variation problems is discussed in [NSS] and [LNSS].

 

The interest in the theory of partial differential equations, which does not concern the calculus of variations, has clearly increased in the group in recent years. In particular, we deal with existence and uniqueness issues for solutions of systems of partial differential equations that model the evolution of magneto-viscoelastic materials. This system includes the (in-)compressible Navier Stokes equations, an evolution equation for the deformation gradient and the Landau-Lifshitz-Gilbert equation or a gradient-flux equation for the magnetization [BFLS, SZ].

A study of the Allen-Cahn / Cahn-Hilliard equations in the context of the geometrically linear theory of elasticity gave first statements of existence and uniqueness [BS].

Refined regularity results for solutions of the Poisson equation with transmission condition in non-smooth domains were shown in [S].

F. De Anna also works on some analytical questions for models in the field of liquid crystals.

J. Ratzkin is interested in geometric aspects of partial differential equations.

Our analytical research is often driven by questions from the theory of elasticity [BS], dislocations [LPS17, RSC], and cracks, or the physical behavior of magnetic materials [S]. In addition to the purely scientific interest, we also focus on the further development of smart materials, such as shape memory materials [FHS, KPS], nanomaterials [LPS17, LSS], composit materials [LPS17, LSS] or magnetoviscoelastic materials [BFLS].