Much of our work is concerned with the growth of patterns the
structures that arise if oil is displacing water in a porous rock, or
if a brittle plate is fracturing under the influence of external stress.
Most patterns in nature are formed under non-equilibrium conditions, and
the resulting patterns are very complex and often have fractal properties.
The complexity is connected to the large number of discrecte units or
``particles'' that interact with each other in such systems.
In our experiments and computer simulations we attempt to understand
the mechanisms of the cooperative interactions and to identify fundamental properties of
the resulting patterns. An example of this is shown in the picture to the right.
Read more about the group in the
Cooperative Phenomena Book 1973-1998 .
Crossdisciplinaty research
The cooperative phenomena group has since 1998 been involved in a Strategic
University Program (SUP)
"Fluid Rock Interactions" together with the department of Geology. As a continuation of this
higly successfull crossdisiplinary collaboration, professor Jens Feder (cooperative phenomena group) and
professor of petrology Bjørn Jamtveit started in 2001 a project called Physics of Geological Processes (PGP).
In June 2002, the PGP was awarded a
Center of Excellence by the NFR (The Research Council of Norway).
Physics of Geological Processes
Simulation of fracturing due
to uniform pressure build-up is shown to the right. The fluid pressure is
illustrated by colored discs(bottom right picture). Fractures are shown as grey, broken bonds. The
simulation corresponds to fracturing due to rapid heating in fluid-filled sediments, illustrated by the
field example (top right picture).
This is an example of a project the will be carried out under PGP.
Students
As a student under PGP and the Cooperative Phenomena group, you will have the chance work in crossdisciplinary
environment and with internationally known scientists. Numerous research projects suited for
Master students
(hovedfagsstudenter) and Ph.d students are described.
Vast amount of resources both
intellectual and material, will be
available for the students.
Reach us at the 4th floor in the institute of physics:
The Cooperative Phenomena Group/Physics of Geological Processes,
Dept. of
Physics, University of Oslo,
PB 1048 Blindern, N-0316 Oslo
Phone: +47 22 85 61 11 Fax: +47 22 85 51 01
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