Waves And Complexity: Nonlinearity, complex phenomena and universality for waves

From 15 to 20 May 2022 in Porquerolles, S.Nazarenko, T.Passot and G. Krstulovic organize the CNRS thematic school Waves and Complexity: nonlinearity, complex phenomena and universality for waves


A full blown thematic season around complex wave phenomena at Université Côte d'Azur

Thanks to the support of Academy 2 and partner projects, the wavecomplexity initiative will coordinate the Complex Wave Phenomena Season. It will feature a number of key events, connected by visits of guest researchers from all over the world who will offer research seminars and advanced lectures.

Check the (still evolving) program of the complex wave phenomena season.


Graduate lecture: Surface approach to electromagnetic scattering: from classical electromagnetism to quantum effects

We are pleased to announce a graduate lecture by Prof. Francesco Papoff (Strathclyde University), who will be staying at Université Côte d’Azur during this automn. The lecture aims at disseminating recent approaches and will be offered in broadly accessible ways, refraining from technicalities. See more details at Francesco Papoff’s lecture page.


March 11th at 11AM: Fortnightly online seminar

Let’s talk about soliton gas and biological waves with:

  • Pierre Suret (Université de Lille): Noise-induced Modulation Instability revisited : Soliton gas theory and ultrafast optical measurements

The concept of Soliton Gas (SG) as a large ensemble of solitons randomly distributed on an infinite line and elastically interacting with each other was originally proposed by Zakharov in 1971. By using the famous example of the modulation instability in presence of noise, we show that SG is a promising model to describe the statistical properties of integrable turbulence.

  • Lendert Gelens (KU Leuven): Nuclei serve as pacemakers to coordinate the cell division cycle

Waves in oscillatory media can be initiated at pacemakers, regions which oscillate faster than its surroundings. Here, we discuss general properties of such pacemaker-generated waves. More specifically, using cytoplasmic extracts made from frog eggs, we experimentally show that nuclei serve as pacemakers to coordinate the cell division cycle.

Connection details:


February 25th 11AM: Fortnightly online seminar

Winter holiday seminar, we will validate a new meeting platform aimed at facilitating informal discussion among participants (speaker and audience alike). We will also talk about deep learning and sensing:

  • Stephane Barland (Université Côte d’Azur): Neural networks for nonlinear interferometry

We show how computer neural networks and laser physics can be put at work together to reconstruct the displacement of a target from a nonlinear interferometric signal.

Connection details:


February 11th 11AM: Fortnightly online seminar

We will talk about shaping wavefronts at the nanoscale and wave condensation. Please join online (open to all) and meet our speakers:

  • Samira Khadir (Université Côte d’Azur): Metasurfaces: design, characterization and applications

In this presentation, we introduce the concept of metasurfaces. We provide their basic design principles, the optical characterization using interferometry-based method and finally, some practical applications

  • Antonio Picozzi (Université de Bourgogne): Condensation of light waves in nonlinear media

We provide an introduction to the thermalization and condensation of classical waves in the theoretical framework of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation, in relation with recent experiments realized in hot atomic vapors and multimode fibers.

Connection details:


International networking event 1st-2nd july 2021

In the spirit of the wavescotedazur conference, we propose the Wavecomplexity International Networking Event, to be held 1st and 2nd of july. Complementary to an online conference, this event aims at connecting researchers around poster meetings, informally and interactively. We have close to 200 registrered participants as of 4th june, check it out at the WINE page and please get in touch with track organizers if you are interested.


From spring to autumn 2022: the Complex Wave Phenomena Season

Thanks to the support of Academy 2 and partner projects, the wavecomplexity initiative will coordinate the Complex Wave Phenomena Season. It will feature a number of key events, connected by visits of guest researchers from all over the world who will offer research seminars and advanced lectures on complex wave phenomena including theoretical and experimental physics, earth sciences, mathematics and numerical modelling.

The full program is still under construction, but we may already announce a few dates:

Partner organizations

We acknowledge the support of many running projects at Université Côte d’Azur for their contribution to this Complex Wave Phenomena season.

  • ANR Jeunes Chercheurs SPINA (Margherita Turconi, Artemis)
  • ANR International HYBRIDCOMB (Guillaume Huyet, Inphyni)
  • ERC FLATLIGHT (Patrice Genevet, CRHEA)
  • ERC ANDLICA (Robin Kaiser, Inphyni)
  • ERC EARLI (Quentin Bletery, Geoazur)