Emergent Complexity in Physical Systems
Dr. Tobias Schneider

In transitional shear flows local perturbations of the quiescent flow generate patches of turbulence that invade the surrounding laminar flow like a bush fire. Likewise, crystal growth from a solution can create intricate, coral-like solids. How can viscous momentum transport in shear flows, diffusion and chemical reactions in crystal growth, and similarly simple physical mechanisms in other systems give rise to complex shapes and complex spatio-temporal patterns? These are typical questions our group studies using several aspects of continuum mechanics and transport theory entwined with dynamical systems methods, pattern-formation theory and large-scale computer simulations.