A scenic route to chaos in the reservoir Academic Article uri icon

abstract

  • A few years ago, I was introduced to an interesting book edited by physicist Graham Farmelo on the beauty of great equations of modern science. It includes a collection of short essays written by leading scientists, historians, and writers, each in the form of a personal meditation on one of the seminal equations of modern science. These are the equations that are widely known and used in subatomic physics, biology, and information science. What makes the book interesting to me is the authors' enthusiasm in showing that the fundamental equations-and their solutions-have an underlying beauty. The concept of beauty is subjective and has no place in the academic circles in which I take part. What does it really mean when we say that an equation is beautiful? What are the mathematical qualities of an equation that could possibly attract the mind? I look for answers to these questions in this executive summary.

published proceedings

  • SPE Journal

author list (cited authors)

  • Akkutlu, I. Y.

complete list of authors

  • Akkutlu, IY

publication date

  • January 2014