Anna-Karin Tornberg
Professor of numerical analysis
About Anna-Karin Thornbergs research:
Large-scale computer simulations have become an indispensible scientific tool for everything from increasing our understanding of fundamental physical phenomena to optimising manufacturing processes. However, there are many important problems that cannot yet be dealt with satisfactorily. New algorithms are being developed and analysed within the Numerical Analysis group, with a focus on accuracy, robustness and effectiveness.
One type of particularly challenging application that Anna-Karin Tornberg has researched is systems with moving boundaries or interfaces that separate different phases or materials, such as immiscible liquids in the form of oil and water in everything from microsystems to oil tanks. Accurate simulation is complicated due to the time-dependent geometry, but is also dependent on various physical laws applying in different regions and the fact that the physics at the interfaces can be complex.
The development of numerical methods is often best driven by the need within different applications, but identifying what is general and adapting it for use within other areas does result in a valuable transfer of knowledge. One example of Anna-Karin’s research is an algorithm for electrostatic calculations within molecular dynamics, which has evolved from the development of boundary integral methods for microscopic fluid mechanics.