University of Georgia
Mathematics Department Colloquium
Jerry L. Bona
University of Texas, Austin
March 4, 1999
Solitary Waves, Singularity Formation and
the Existence of Sand Bars
Abstract: This lecture has several objectives. First is
to acquaint students with the history of solitons
and soliton mathematics. Second is to describe
some interesting open questions arising from this
theory, and some recent progress. Lastly, we
show how these ideas can be used in very practical
modelling situations. The principal example will
be concerned with problems arising in oceanography.
A model for the interaction of surface or internal
wave motion and bottom sediment will be described
and shown to provide a useful tool for the analysis
of problems arising in coastal engineering.