Complex Systems and Materials (CSM)

Leader: Prof. Mikko Alava

The CSM group applies statistical physics to a wide variety of cross-disciplinary topics, ranging from computer science to materials as paper to complex networks. We also interact with industrial research, and study fundamental issues both theoretically and experimentally. The research pages show some recent highlights about these.

Strain-rate map in paper

This colorful picture shows the local strain rates during a creep fracture experiment (courtesy of Juha Koivisto). Clearly to describe these fluctuations one needs not only colours but also a toolbox, and we apply statistical physics to this end (See the research page for more examples).

$Damage profiles in fracture$

Statistical fracture mechanics is one field where one can study fundamental theoretical phenomena (non-equilibrium phase transiti1ons, self-organized criticality, finite size scaling …) and apply them to engineering -related problems. This figure (Physical Review Letters 100, 055502) depicts the damage cloud around a defect in fracture.