DIMACS - RUTGERS EXPERIMENTAL MATHEMATICS SEMINAR

Sponsored by the Rutgers University Department of Mathematics and the
Center for Discrete Mathematics and Theoretical Computer Science (DIMACS)

Co-organizers:

Matthew Russell, Rutgers University, russell2 {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu)

Doron Zeilberger, Rutgers University, zeilberg {at} math [dot] rutgers [dot] edu

Title: Hearing the Shape of a Band

Speaker: Ori Parzanchevski, Princeton University

Date: Thursday, October 15, 2015 5:00pm

Location: Hill Center, Room 705, Rutgers University, Busch Campus, Piscataway, NJ

Abstract:

"Can One Hear the Shape of a Drum?" is the witty title of a 1966 paper by Mark Kac, asking whether one can infer the shape of an object (such as a drum) from the sound it makes when vibrating. Only in 1992 the question was answered, by Gordon, Webb and Wolpert. In addition to explaining the answer, I will talk about the more general problem of "hearing the shape of a band" (quoting Barry Cipra), and explain how it relates to elementary group theory and experimental mathematics. No prior knowledge in physics or drumming is required.

See: http://www.math.rutgers.edu/~russell2/expmath/