Multiscale Models of Crystal Defects (14w5069)

The Banff International Research Station will host the "Multiscale Models of Crystal Defects (HALF)" workshop from September 21st to September 26th, 2014.

Calculated answers for mathematicians


The quest for better and cheaper materials is a part of human history since the stone ages. The most spectacular advancements (semiconductors, liquid crystals ...) in the 20th century have been a result of atomic theories. A limiting factor for further progress is the lack of mathematical understanding of the corresponding discrete systems.
Building on recent progress in multiscale analysis the workshop will foster exchange between mathematicians and material scientists, to seek mathematical answers for longstanding fundamental questions such as
Why do minimizers of the free energy form crystals?
What is the effect of crystal defects such as dislocations and grain boundaries on the macroscopic material behavior?

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 U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF), Alberta's Advanced Education and Technology, and Mexico's Consejo Nacional de Ciencia y Tecnología (CONACYT).