Johann Bernoulli lezing 20
(maandag 28 maart 2011)
Sir Michael Berry (Bristol University)
Making light of mathematics
Many ‘mathematical phenomena’ find application and sometimes spectacular physical illustration in the physics of light. Concepts such as fractals, catastrophe theory, knots, infinity, zero, and even when 1+1 fails to equal 2, are needed to understand rainbows, twinkling starlight, sparkling seas, oriental magic mirrors, and simple experiments on interference, polarization and focusing. The lecture will be nontechnical but intellectual, and strongly visual.
Laudatio: Eric Bergshoeff (Rijksuniversiteit Groningen)