Singularities: Formation, Structure, and Propagation

This book explores a wide range of singular phenomena, providing mathematical tools for understanding them and highlighting their common features.

J. Eggers (Author), M. A. Fontelos (Author)

9781107485495, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 17 September 2015

470 pages, 125 b/w illus. 8 colour illus. 180 exercises
22.7 x 15.2 x 2 cm, 0.74 kg

'The book will serve as an excellent introduction to the field of singularities in continuum mechanics, and a valuable resource for researchers … In short, a wonderful achievement!' H. K. Moffatt, Journal of Fluid Mechanics

Many key phenomena in physics and engineering are described as singularities in the solutions to the differential equations describing them. Examples covered thoroughly in this book include the formation of drops and bubbles, the propagation of a crack and the formation of a shock in a gas. Aimed at a broad audience, this book provides the mathematical tools for understanding singularities and explains the many common features in their mathematical structure. Part I introduces the main concepts and techniques, using the most elementary mathematics possible so that it can be followed by readers with only a general background in differential equations. Parts II and III require more specialised methods of partial differential equations, complex analysis and asymptotic techniques. The book may be used for advanced fluid mechanics courses and as a complement to a general course on applied partial differential equations.

Preface
Part I. Setting the Scene: 1. What are singularities all about?
2. Blow-up
3. Similarity profile
4. Continuum equations
5. Local singular expansions
6. Asymptotic expansions of PDEs
Part II. Formation of Singularities: 7. Drop break-up
8. A numerical example: drop pinch-off
9. Slow convergence
10. Continuation
Part III. Persistent Singularities – Propagation: 11. Shock waves
12. The dynamical system
13. Vortices
14. Cusps and caustics
15. Contact lines and cracks
Appendix A. Vector calculus
Appendix B. Index notation and the summation convention
Appendix C. Dimensional analysis
References
Index.

Subject Areas: Geophysics [PHVG], Mathematical physics [PHU], Fluid mechanics [PHDF], Nonlinear science [PBWR], Mathematical modelling [PBWH]