DATE AND PLACE: 
August 2003, Helsinki, Finland

SPEAKER: 
Tuncay Aktosun 
Department of Mathematics and Statistics
Mississippi State University
Mississippi State, MS 39762

E-MAIL ADDRESS:
aktosun@math.msstate.edu

HOMEPAGE: http://www.msstate.edu/~aktosun

TITLE: Wave focusing in one dimension

MATHEMATICS SUBJECT CLASSIFICATION CODE: 35P25

ABSTRACT: 
We analyze ``wave focusing" in a one-dimensional
nonhomogeneous medium, namely the momentary disappearance
of the tail of a propagating wave.
We explicitly construct
focusing waves that are causal, incoming from either 
the left or right, consisting of a plane wavefront and
a trailing tail behind in such a way that the tail 
totally disappears at a desired instant.
Some applications are discussed.
