Paul DuChateau

B.S.: Purdue University
M.S.:
University of Michigan
Ph.D.:
Purdue University

Specializations: Applied mathematics, partial differential equations

Professor DuChateau received his B.S. in Engineering Science from Purdue University in 1962 and his M.S. in Mathematics from the University of Michigan in 1963. He worked for United Aircraft Corporation until 1967 when he returned to Purdue University and received his Ph.D. in Mathematics in 1970. Before joining the Colorado State University faculty in 1973, he taught at Wabash College and the University of Kentucky.

Professor DuChateau's research interests lie in the area of partial differential equations, particularly in inverse problems arising in modeling flow through porous media. His research in these areas has been supported in the past by National Science Foundation Engineering and by the Office of Naval Research. This research has resulted in the publication of more than 50 papers on inverse problems and partial differential equations.

Professor DuChateau has taught a wide range of courses at various levels, including calculus for biological sciences, applied mathematics, real and functional analysis as well as ordinary and partial differential equations. He has authored eight textbooks from the intermediate to advanced levels on such topics as advanced calculus, complex variables, Fourier and vector analysis and partial differential equations.

Publications

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION: INVERSE PROBLEMS IN PARTIAL DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

Many physical systems can be modeled by partial differential equations and if all the necessary inputs for the problem are known, then the solution can be computed and used to predict how the system will behave under various conditions. The necessary inputs include such information as initial or boundary data, forcing terms, coefficients and even the shape and size of the domain, and if any of these ingredients is unknown, then it is not possible to use the model for studying the physical system. On the other hand, it may be possible to experimentally measure certain outputs from the system and use this information together with the inputs that are known in order to recover the missing input information. This is called an inverse problem.

For example, the coefficients in a partial differential equation model are generally related to the physical properties of the system that is modeled. The equation is viewed as describing an entire class of systems rather than a specific system. In order to describe a specific system in the class, the coefficients must be found which characterize physical properties of the system we wish to model. In simple situations, these physical properties can be determined directly from some sort of experiment and the results used to tie the model to a specific physical system. This process is referred to as calibrating the model. In more complicated situations it may be difficult or impossible to measure the physical property associated with a coefficient in a model equation. In such cases it may be necessary to proceed indirectly, i.e., to formulate and solve an inverse problem for the missing information. The identification of unknown coefficients in differential equations leads to a variety of interesting mathematical problems having applications in many important areas. Professor DuChateau's research has focused particularly on the applications of inverse problems to modeling flow in a porous medium. In recent years several students have completed Master’s projects relating to such problems and there have been three PhD's.

Notes for Ordinary Differential Equations:

Ordinary Differential Equations

Notes for Advanced Calculus:

Avanced Calculus

Notes on Partial Differential Equations:

Introduction to Linear PDE's

Introduction to Nonlinear PDE's

Advanced PDE's

Navier Stokes System


 

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