The primary activity of the Center is conduct and support basic scientific research in nonlinear and complex systems phenomena and promote their use in applied research programs.

CNLS chooses a small number (two to three) focus topics periodically and directs a major portion of its research capabilities into these strategically important areas. The focus areas are determined by the Executive Committee, and they are chosen by taking into consideration both the Laboratory's needs for basic science relevant to mission-critical programs and the need to stay abreast of emerging and potentially important developments in complex systems research.

Current Focus Areas

Multi-Scale Modeling of Strongy Coupled Systems Strength of materials Fluid Turbulence and Mixing Macroscopic quatum systems Mathematical physics of multiscale problems

Statistical Physics of Networks, Information and Complex Systems Neural computation Network theory Information theory

Complex Biological and Bio-inspired Systems Simulations of biochemical reaction kinetics Nano-Tubes Self-assembled thin films Bio-Polymers Quantum Chemistry

Previous Focus Areas

Nonlinear Behavior in Complex Systems Solitons Patterns and nonlinear dynamics Excitations in condensed matter materials Nature of mathematical equations

Cooperative Phenomena in Soft Matter Energy landscapes in macromolecules Colloids, vesicles and membranes Dynamics of granular materials Statistical hydrodynamics

Dynamics of Complex Networks: Biology, Information and Security Biological networks Social networks Network theory