物理学与信息技术学院 恒元物理学讲座（第040期）：Nonlinear Dynamics and Complex Systems - A Paradigm for Cutting-Edge, Interdisciplinary Research

讲座内容：Our world is nonlinear and complex.Research on nonlinear dynamics and complex systems in the past four decades hasprovided unprecedented insights not only into a large variety of naturalphenomena, but also into engineering systems and human behaviors. Traditionally,nonlinear (chaotic) dynamical systems theory was a natural vehicle forinterdisciplinary outreach, covering fields in physical and biological sciencesas well as engineering. In recent years, extension of nonlinear dynamics tocomplex systems has greatly widened the horizon of this interdisciplinaryenterprise, starting to generate profound impact on a much broad spectrum offields including social, economical, and political sciences. Nonlinear dynamicsand complex systems are becoming an indispensable and absolutely essentialcomponent of the modern infrastructure of scientific research in manycountries.

The speaker will discuss recent resultsfrom his group on nonlinear dynamics and complex systems from both the “small”an “large” perspectives. In the”small” direction, examples from micro- andnano-systems, graphene systems, optical metamaterial systems, and syntheticgene circuits will be presented, with an emphasis on employing nonlineardynamics to make new discoveries, to reveal and explain fundamental physicalphenomena, and to develop principles for practical device design and control.From the “large” perspective, advances in the study of large-scale complexnetworks and ecosystems will be presented, with applications in engineering, “big-data”science, environmental science, and defense. These efforts could potentiallylead to new areas of research such as Relativistic Quantum Chaos andNano-Nonlinear Physics.