SMRI Colloquium: Melbourne -- CANCELLED Sharp polynomial bounds on mixing rates for dispersing billiards and Lorentz gases

Time: ***UPDATE*** CANCELLED ***UPDATE***

Venue: New Law School Theatre 026 

Title: Sharp polynomial bounds on mixing rates for dispersing billiards and Lorentz
gases 

Abstract: In this talk, we consider mixing properties of Lorentz gas models (introduced
by H.  Lorentz in 1905) and their discrete time counterparts (dispersing billiards).
Various general results on polynomial mixing rates (upper and lower bounds) will be
described.  For instance, the infinite horizon Lorentz gas was conjectured by physicists
to mix at the rate 1/t; this was proved in recent joint work with Peter Balint & Oliver
Butterley.  Sharp lower bounds and asymptotics for mixing rates were obtained in recent
joint work with Henk Bruin & Dalia Terhesiu.  

Biography: Ian Melbourne is a professor of mathematics at the University of Warwick.
His research interests lie in ergodic theory and dynamical systems, with links to
probability theory and stochastic analysis (in particular, rough paths).  Currently he
is Managing Editor of the journal Ergodic Theory & Dynamical Systems as well as an
editor for Transactions of the AMS.