The talk provides a new perspective of the global bifurcation theory on the plane. Theory of planar bifurcations consists of three parts: local, nonlocal and global ones. It is now clear that the latter one is yet to be created.

Local bifurcation theory (in what follows we will talk about the plane only) is related to  transfigurations of phase portraits of differential equations near their singular points. This theory is almost completed, though recently new open problems occurred. Nonlocal theory is related to bifurcations of separatrix polygons (polycycles). Though in the last 30 years there were obtained many new results, this theory is far from being completed.

Recently it was discovered that nonlocal theory contains another substantial part: a global theory. New phenomena are related with appearance of the so called sparkling saddle connections. The aim of the talk is to give an outline of the new theory and discuss numerous open problems. The main new results are: existence of an open set of structurally unstable families of planar vector fields, and of families having functional invariants (joint results with Kudryashov and Schurov). Thirty years ago Arnold stated six conjectures that outlined the future development of the global bifurcation theory in the plane. All these conjectures are now disproved. Though the theory develops in quite a different direction, this development is motivated by the Arnold's conjectures.

We will discuss three one space dimensional time dependent linear parabolic equations: the heat equation, the Black-Scholes equation (describing stock options) and the Cox-Ingersoll-Ross equation (describing bond markets).  New results will involve representation of the solution semigroups, chaotic properties of the semigroups, and a new kind of Feynman-Kac type representation of the solution for the CIR equation.

     We will consider the inverse problem of determining the sound speed or index of refraction of a medium by measuring the travel times of waves going through the medium. This problem arises in global seismology in an attempt to determine the inner structure of the Earth by measuring travel times of earthquakes. It has also several applications in optics and medical imaging among others.
     The problem can be recast as a geometric problem: Can one determine a Riemannian metric of a Riemannian manifold with boundary by measuring the distance function between boundary points? This is the boundary rigidity problem. We will also consider the problem of determining the metric from the scattering relation, the so-called lens rigidity problem. The linearization of these problems involve the integration of a tensor along geodesics, similar to the X-ray transform.
     We will also describe some recent results, join with Plamen Stefanov and Andras Vasy, on the partial data case, where you are making measurements on a subset of the boundary. No previous knowledge of Riemannian geometry will be assumed. 

Abstract:

I will discuss various geometric gluing constructions. First I will discuss constructions for Constant Mean Curvature hypersurfaces in Euclidean spaces including my earlier work for two-surfaces in three-space which settled the Hopf conjecture for surfaces of genus two and higher, and recent generalizations in collaboration with Christine Breiner in all dimensions. I will then briefly mention gluing constructions in collaboration with Mark Haskins for special Lagrangian cones in Cn. A large part of my talk will concentrate on doubling and desingularization constructions for minimal surfaces and on applications on closed minimal surfaces in the round spheres, free boundary minimal surfaces in the unit ball, and self-shrinkers for the Mean Curvature flow. Finally I will discuss my collaboration with Simon Brendle on constructions for Einstein metrics on four-manifolds and related geometric objects.

Abstract