Theory and Applications of Classical and Quantum Kinetic Theory (09w5050)

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Theory and Applications of Classical and Quantum Kinetic Theory" workshop next week, June 21 - June 26, 2009.

This workshop on kinetic theory will focus on problems of fundamental significance in physics and engineering, typically related to well-posedness or validation of the basic equations; at the same time, kinetic equations are powerful models for numerous phenomena beyond the traditional realms of rarefied gases, plasmas or stellar systems.

For example, kinetic models are presently being studied for such diverse applications as electron flows in semiconductors, gene-gene interactions in the cell (involving reaction-diffusion of the transcribed mRNA and the translated proteins), radiative transfer in molten glass, traffic flows on multi-lane freeways, turbulence models, and even kinetic models for trade exchange and distribution of wealth, with applications in finance.

The workshop will cover all three aspects of the typical faces of research and education: Creating and solidifying foundations, applications, and educating the next generations.

The Banff International Research Station for Mathematical Innovation and Discovery (BIRS) is a collaborative Canada-US-Mexico venture that provides an environment for creative interaction as well as the exchange of ideas, knowledge, and methods within the Mathematical Sciences, with related disciplines and with industry. The research station is located at The Banff Centre in Alberta and is supported by Canada's Natural Science and Engineering Research Council (NSERC), the US National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnologí­a (CONACYT).