Ken Brakke
Mathematics Department
Office: 009 Seibert Hall
Phone: 570-372-4466
Fax: 570-372-2743
Email:
brakke@susqu.edu
Snail mail: Mathematics Department, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164
Office Hours: 1:00-3:00 daily
Class schedule, Spring 2008:
- CSCI-391-R1:
Data Communications and Networks I,
3:00-4:05 MWF, Seibert 18, first 7 weeks.
- CSCI-392-S1:
Data Communications and Networks II,
3:00-4:05 MWF, Seibert 18, second 7 weeks.
- MATH-141-01:
Introduction to Statistics, 8:45-9:50 MWF,
Steele 108.
- MATH-141-02:
Introduction to Statistics, 11:15-12:20 MWF,
Steele 108.
Version 2.30, January 1, 2008
My Surface Evolver is an interactive program for the modelling of liquid
surfaces shaped by various forces and constraints. The program is
available free of charge.
The result of my amateur attempt to translate Joseph Plateau's famous
1873 book on soap films and surface tension.
A gallery
of random fractal images generated with iterated function
systems (IFS), along with my own applet to generate more. Infinite
complexity and amazing variety from simple rules!
A program for visualizing multiple universes connected by gateways formed by
cosmic strings. The image shows five universes (with different color skies)
connected by a string in the shape of a trefoil knot. Polycut reveals how soap
films are least-area
boundaries between universes.
What is the least area way to partition space into unit volumes?
A Java applet showing the
equilibrium states of a 1-dimensional soap film spanning the corners
of a rectangle with liquid in the interior of the film.
Surfaces of zero mean curvature that repeat
periodically in three dimensions.
Which soap films on wire frames form perfect cones straight to the center?
There are surprisingly few.
Knotted wires make for some very interesting soapfilms!
What is the least area surface that can block any ray of light from
passing through the interior of a cube?
Even if the galaxy potentially has millions of space-faring civilizations,
the first such civilization probably gets about a
100 million year head start on the second. We look to be the first,
so the galaxy is ours to colonize without opposition!
A Surface Evolver simulation
of 2D grain growth, starting with 100 grains. The starting configuration
is the Voronoi diagram of 100 random points. Periodic boundary conditions.
1.6MB mpeg. Also 1000 grain movie
(8 MB mpeg) and 10000 grain movie
(10 MB mpeg).
These are mainly for the benefit of my Geometry class. There are
step-by-step constructions for 29 basic constructions, plus some
more challenging ones.
Mathematics Department home page
SU Home Page
Susquehanna University, 514 University Avenue, Selinsgrove, PA 17870-1164,
570-374-0101
Last modified 12/31/07
My papers.
Grain growth movie.
A Surface Evolver simulation
of 2D grain growth, starting with 100 grains. The starting configuration
is the Voronoi diagram of 100 random points. Periodic boundary conditions.
1.6MB mpeg. Also 1000 grain movie
(8 MB mpeg) and 10000 grain movie
(10 MB mpeg).
Ruler and compass constructions.