Scientific report

Many-body systems far from equilibrium: Fluctuations, slow dynamics and long-range interactions
held from the 16th of February to the 27th of February 2009.

One of the aims of this seminar was to bring together people working on either slow dynamics or long-range interactions in order to permit a cross-fertilisation in studies of fluctuation effects. This choice seemed timely, in particular in view of recent recommendations for research directions of the american NSF and the DoE. It also became evident through the large number of applications. In spite of very generous aid from the MPIPKS, we could only accept a little more than half of the total number of applicants.

Besides 20 longer lectures from our invited speakers, some 20 shorter talks gave especially younger colleagues the opportunity to present their work. It was satisfying to see that many different people participated through their questions and comments in these talks and further occasion for exchange was provided by the poster sessions (at the request of the participants, a third one was arranged). Still, the breaks between talks were sufficiently long for people to engage in long discussions, either to make progress in existing projects or to start new collaborations. We are happy that several experimentalists participated which opened a particular window on the themes of this seminar, which in general are mainly theoretical.

All in all, we have been very happy and satisfied with the scientific success of the seminar and the perfect support provided by the MPIPKS for which we are extremely grateful.

The scientific coordinators
Malte Henkel (CNRS - Nancy Université, France)
David Mukamel (Weizmann Institute, Israel)
Gunter Schütz (FZ Jülich, Germany)
Michel Pleimling (Virginia Tech, USA)

For further information please e-mail to: mbsffe09@pks.mpg.de