Deutsch
English
Invitation to the Mathematical Colloquium
Wednesday, April 16, 2025, Seminar Room A (R209), 5 p.m. s.t.
Prof. Dr. Marc Pfetsch, Technical University of Darmstadt - Research Department Discrete Optimization will talk about the topic: "Combinatorial Aspects of Physical Networks"
Abstract: This talk considers combinatorial properties of physical networks like water, gas, heat, and electrical networks. One common model is given by potential-based flows, for which, in general, the corresponding flows depend in a nonlinear way on potentials (e.g., pressures) and are unique. The talk will review three different topics. The first is how the fact that flows in physical networks are acyclic can be used to strengthen mixed-integer optimization formulations and to derive combinatorial models. The second concerns the recovery of the structure of the network, given only information at the entries and exits. The talk will demonstrate positive and negative results in this direction. The third deals with topology optimization of such networks. Here, valid inequalities on the binary decision variables are derived using the nonlinear behavior of the network.
Starting at 4:30 p.m., there will be an opportunity for all interested parties to talk over coffee and tea in the library room (R110).
Olaf Ippisch
Organizer: Institute of Mathematics, Erzstraße 1, 38678 Clausthal-Zellerfeld
Link for online participation in the colloquium:
https://webconf.tu-clausthal.de/rooms/ola-qyv-ml6-ivd/join