The advent of high-powered computing capabilities allows the development of multiscale, multiphysics, multimodule simulations which demonstrate emergent, complex, and far-from-equilibrium (FFE) behaviors. Some of the common FFE system trends are:

(1) Frequency-dependent systems composed of multiple interacting subsystems.

(2) Subsystems can have nonlinear or regime-thresholded responses. The latter refers to the input exceeding some threshold or assuming some value that steps the output variation from one regime to another (e.g., ambient temperature is or is not sufficient to sustain a chemical reaction).

(3) One or more subsystems provide a power source independent of the source signal which triggers the FFE response. (i.e., the signal triggers a cascade of events leading to a FFE scenario, but does not power the FFE response.

(4) The source signal which triggers the FFE response is within the statistically –allowable signal variations.

(5) The FFE response to a trigger signal is dependent on the timeliness of damping mechanisms which attempt to return system to an equilibrium (non-FFE) response.

(6) The signal may be input at a microscale, while effecting macroscale responses (multiscale nature of the problem).

(7) The systems may include classical engineering, medical, etc. systems (i.e., the ability of a building to resist an earthquake) as well as sociological, economic, and political systems.

In fact, such behaviors are not only observed in the real world, but are absolutely essential for biological life, etc. On one hand, we need to be able to simulate such systems in order to accurately represent physical processes. On the other hand, there is interest in stimulating, identifying, and observing such behaviors in simulations. Research which proposes methods of inquiry or elucidation of FFE behaviors, drivers, and methods of analysis are of interest.

 

Reference

Cooper WL: Condensed-Matter and Materials Physics: The Science of the World Around Us, Committee on CMMP 2010, National Research Council, ISBN: 978-0-309-10965-9, 224 pages, 2007

 

key words

Uncertainty; Optimization; Modeling; Simulation; Diagnostics; Statistical; Mesoscale; Multiscale;

Citizenship:  Open to U.S. citizens

Level:  Open to Postdoctoral and Senior applicants