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 (three to four) 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

Multiscale Dynamics of Biological Systems Macromolecules - Dynamics at the Nano-Scale Cellular Dynamics and Function Cooperative Cellular Interactions

Correlations and Dynamics in Information Science Sensing and Processing of Information Modeling and Analysis of Complex Systems Inference and Learning

Previous Focus Areas

Bridging Equilibrium and Non-Equilibrium Statistical Physics Self-Organized Structure Quenched Disorder

Quantum Science: From Information to Materials Quantum information Atomic-Molecular-Optical Physics Quantum Materials

Multiscale Modeling of Strongly Coupled Systems Strength of materials Fluid Turbulence and Mixing Macroscopic quantum 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

New and Enhanced Capabilities in Quantum Information Processing Quantum Computing Quantum Cryptography Quantum Sensing

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