Pattern formation is the study of self organized ordered states in extended classical systems. It is a branch of physics with a close affinity to art and aesthetics.
Nonlinear pattern formation evolved as a subfield of statistical mechanics and condensed matter physics in the late 1980s – 1990s. This wasv part of a general resurgence of interest in nonlinear dynamics. Extended classical systems often self-organize into ordered states of motion (“patterns”) which are closely analogous to ordered states of matter (“phases”). Patterns often appear in fluid mechanical, chemical, biological and geological contexts.
The interest in nonlinear dynamics left an impression on the popular imagination of the day. Many can recall the “chaos theory” monologue given by actor Jeff Goldblum in the 1993 film Jurassic Park. That same year, Professor Stephen Morris joined the Department of Physics.
The laboratory of Prof. Morris did experiments on pattern formation in flowing liquids and liquid crystals, chemically reacting flows, mud cracks, columnar joints, granular media and the formation of icicles. Morris retired in 2022