Jean-Philippe Lessard

Research

My research lies at the interface of dynamical systems, nonlinear analysis and scientific computing. I develop computer-assisted proofs: rigorous, constructive methods that turn numerical simulations into mathematical theorems about infinite dimensional dynamical systems arising from partial, delay and ordinary differential equations.

Partial differential equations

Computer-assisted proofs of steady states, periodic orbits, traveling waves and localized patterns in PDEs, including Navier–Stokes, Swift–Hohenberg and ill-posed problems.

Ordinary differential equations

Periodic orbits, invariant manifolds, connecting orbits and bifurcations in ODEs via the parameterization method, Chebyshev series and radii polynomials.

Delay differential equations

Periodic orbits, eigenvalues, unstable manifolds and Hopf bifurcations in delay equations, including work towards Jones’ conjecture for Wright’s equation.

Bifurcations in dynamical systems

Computer-assisted proofs of saddle-node, pitchfork, Hopf and cusp bifurcations in ODEs, PDEs and delay equations.

Topological methods

Combining computer-assisted proofs with Morse–Conley–Floer theory to obtain forcing results for chaos and connecting orbits.

The N-body problem

Choreographies, relative equilibria and periodic orbits in n-body and vortex problems, including a proof of Marchal’s conjecture.

Rigorous continuation

Validated one- and multi-parameter continuation of branches and manifolds of solutions, and global bifurcation diagrams.

Codes accompanying publications

Most computer-assisted proofs come with the code needed to reproduce them.