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SUMMARY:From René Thom to the Cosmos: Universal Singularities in Collapsi
 ng Domain Walls
DTSTART:20260513T110000Z
DTEND:20260513T120000Z
DTSTAMP:20260514T053800Z
UID:indico-event-2561@indico.ifae.es
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Juan Sebastián Valbuena-Bermúdez\n\nDomain walls
 —topological defects born from primordial symmetry breaking—are fundam
 ental to early-universe cosmology. Understanding their collapse is crucial
  for constraining inflationary and beyond-Standard-Model scenarios. \nWhi
 le large-scale network simulations remain essential and computationally ex
 pensive\, we adopt a complementary approach: studying individual closed wa
 lls through analytical\, approximate\, and numerical methods.\nOur key fin
 ding: collapsing domain walls generically develop universal singularities
 —cuspidal edges and vertices that propagate at the speed of light. Remar
 kably\, their dynamics follow the mathematical patterns predicted by René
  Thom's theory\, as shown by full-field-theory adaptive-mesh-refinement si
 mulations. Remarkably\, their dynamics follow the mathematical patterns pr
 edicted by René Thom's Catastrophe Theory.\nBy connecting Singularity The
 ory\, Eikonal caustics\, and relativistic field dynamics\, we reveal deep 
 universality: the same mathematics governing optical caustics\, wavefront 
 formations\, and—as Salvador Dalí intuited—artistic geometry.\n\nhttp
 s://indico.ifae.es/event/2561/
LOCATION:IFAE Seminar Room (In-person)
URL:https://indico.ifae.es/event/2561/
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