The IMA volumes in mathematics and its applications ;

It is increasingly the case that models of natural phenomena and materials processing systems involve viscous flows with free surfaces. These free boundaries are interfaces of the fluid with either second immiscible fluids or else deformable solid boundaries. The deformation can be due to mechanical displacement or as is the case here, due to phase transformation; the solid can melt or freeze. This volume highlights a broad range of subjects on interfacial phenomena. There is an overview of the mathematical description of viscous free-surface flows, a description of the current understanding of mathematical issues that arise in these models and a discussion of high-order-accuracy boundary-integral methods for the solution of viscous free surface flows. There is the mathematical analysis of particular flows: long-wave instabilities in viscous-film flows, analysis of long-wave instabilities leading to Marangoni convection, and de§ scriptions of the interaction of convection with morphological stability during directional solidification. This book is geared toward anyone with an interest in free-boundary problems, from mathematical analysts to material scientists; it will be useful to applied mathematicians, physicists, and engineers alike.

The solution of very large sparse or structured linear algebra problems is an integral part of many scientific computations. Direct methods for solving such problems are often infeasible because of computation time and memory requirements, and so iterative techniques are used instead. In recent years much research has focussed on the efficient solution of large systems of linear equations, least squares problems, and eigenvalue problems using iterative methods. This volume on iterative methods for sparse and structured problems brings together researchers from all over the world to discuss topics of current research. Areas addressed included the development of efficient iterative techniques for solving nonsymmetric linear systems and eigenvalue problems, estimating the convergence rate of such algorithms, and constructing efficient preconditioners for special classes of matrices such as Toeplitz and Hankel matrices. Iteration strategies and preconditioners that could exploit parallelism were of special interest. This volume represents the latest results of mathematical and computational research into the development and analysis of robust iterative methods for numerical linear algebra problems. This volume will be useful for both mathematicians and for those involved in applications using iterative methods.

"This volume contains a number of mini-review articles authored by speakers and attendees at the IMA workshop on pattern formation in continuous and coupled systems. Pattern formation has been studied intensively for most of this century by both experimentalists and theoreticians. This workshop focused on new directions in the patterns literature. Systems that generate new types of pattern such as discrete coupled systems, systems with global coupling, and combustion experiments were stressed, as were new types of pattern."--BOOK JACKET.

The articles in this volume focus on control theory of systems governed by nonlinear linear partial differential equations, identification and optimal design of such systems, and modelling of advanced materials. Optimal design of systems governed by PDEs is a relatively new area of study, now particularly relevant because of interest in optimization of fluid flow in domains of variable configuration, advanced and composite materials studies and "smart" materials which include possibilities for built in sensing and control actuation. The book will be of interest to both applied mathematicians and to engineers.