Discussion Overview
The discussion centers around the identification of US universities with strong departments in nonlinear dynamics and mathematical physics, particularly in the context of pursuing a PhD. Participants share their knowledge and experiences regarding various institutions and their respective strengths in these fields.
Discussion Character
- Exploratory, Technical explanation
Main Points Raised
- One participant expresses interest in nonlinear dynamics and mathematical physics for their PhD and seeks recommendations for universities with strong programs.
- Another participant lists several universities known for dynamical systems, including SUNY Stony Brook, Rutgers, Boston University, Caltech, Princeton, and MIT, noting specific faculty members associated with these programs.
- The same participant mentions uncertainty regarding the definition of mathematical physics and suggests that some universities like Rutgers, Alabama, Indiana, Stony Brook, BU, MIT, Caltech, Princeton, Columbia, and NYU could be good starting points.
- There is a suggestion that "Chaos" may be more aligned with applied mathematics and physics, while dynamical systems might be more relevant to topology and pure mathematics, indicating a distinction in focus depending on the intended area of study.
- A participant references a previous post related to a similar question, providing a link for further information.
- Another participant shares their personal experience of obtaining a PhD in Aerospace from Southern California but expresses uncertainty about the physics department there.
Areas of Agreement / Disagreement
Participants provide various recommendations for universities, but there is no consensus on the best options, and some uncertainty exists regarding the classification of mathematical physics and its relationship to other fields.
Contextual Notes
Participants express differing views on the categorization of chaos and dynamical systems, and there is ambiguity regarding the definitions and scope of mathematical physics.