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Quantitative stochastic homogenization of variational problems

Project description

Rapid and random, stationary or regular: novel approaches to multiscale problems

Partial differential equations are fundamental to our description of the way certain parameters change in relation to changes in others. Many microscopic processes described by partial differential equations such as the conduction of heat, electricity or magnetism in heterogeneous materials involve rapidly changing coefficients. Homogenisation theory has evolved to obtain macroscopic or 'effective' equations for systems with fine microscopic structure. Stochastic homogenisation goes one step further to deal with rapidly changing random coefficients. The EU-funded QSHvar project is applying new methods within the stochastic homogenisation framework to solve open problems in an important field of calculus that seeks stationary values (for example, minima or maxima) of certain functions.

Objective

The proposal addresses various multiscale problems which lie at the intersection of probability theory and the analysis of partial differential equations and calculus of variations. Most of the proposed problems fit under the framework of stochastic homogenization, that is, the study of large-scale statistical properties of solutions to equations with random coefficients. In the last ten years, there has been significant progress made in developing a quantitative theory of stochastic homogenization, meaning that one can now go beyond limit theorems and prove rates of convergence and error estimates, and in some cases even characterize the fluctuations of the error. These new quantitative methods give us new tools to attack more difficult multi-scale problems that have until now resisted previous approaches, and consequently to solve open problems in the field.

Many of the actual goals of the proposal come from problems in calculus of variations. Apart from qualitative results, many fundamental questions in quantitative theory are completely open, and our recent results suggest a way to tackle these problems. The first one is to prove regularity properties of homogenized Lagrangian under rather general assumptions on functionals, and to solve a counterpart for Hilbert's 19th problem in the context of homogenization. The second project is to attack so-called Faber-Krahn inequality in the heterogeneous case. This is a very involved problem, but again recent development in the theory of homogenization makes the attempt plausible. The final part of the proposal involves new mathematical approaches and subsequent computational research supporting the geothermal power plant project being built by St1 Deep Heat Ltd in Espoo, Finland.

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Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Funding Scheme

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

(opens in new window) ERC-2018-COG

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Host institution

HELSINGIN YLIOPISTO
Net EU contribution
€ 1 312 500,00
Address
FABIANINKATU 33
00014 Helsinki
Finland
Region
Manner-Suomi Helsinki-Uusimaa Helsinki-Uusimaa
Activity type
Higher or Secondary Education Establishments
Links
Total cost
€ 1 312 500,00

Beneficiaries (1)