Student Talk Series: John Klobusicky, Geisinger Health Systems, February 5th, Olin 268 @ noon

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Title: Piecewise Deterministic Markov Processes and Metal Grain Coarsening

Abstract: In material science, individual metal grains obey surprisingly simple rules.  However, geometric considerations can create difficulties when attempting to analyze the bulk properties of metals.  In this talk, we’ll describe a mean field model using piecewise deterministic Markov processes which converts the geometric problem of grain evolution to one of analysis and stochastic processes.  In particular, we’ll show that densities of grains approach a law of large numbers described by a partial differential equation.