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Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics

Career

  • 1983–1985 Instructor in Applied Mathematics, Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
  • 1989–1992 Assistant Professor, Departments of Engineering Sciences & Applied Mathematics and Chemical Engineering, Northwestern University.
  • 1992–present DAMTP faculty member, now Professor
  • 1993–present College Senior Lecturer in Mathematics for Natural Sciences. Trinity College.

Research

The broad areas of Grae Worster's research encompass buoyancy-driven fluid flows, solidification and interactions between the two. He is particularly interested in the evolution of reactive porous media called mushy layers that commonly form during solidification of multi-component melts. Examples include the partially solidified regions formed during alloy production, solidification of magmas and the freezing of sea water to produce sea ice. Latterly, his research has been particularly focused on ice in our natural environment: sea ice, permafrost and glacial ice sheets.

Selected Publications

http://www.itg.cam.ac.uk/people/grae/publications.html

  • Wettlaufer JS, Huppert HE & Worster MG 2000 The solidification of leads: theory, experiment and field observations. Journal of Geophysical Research 105, 1123–1134.
  • Acton JA, Huppert HE & Worster MG 2001 Two-dimensional viscous gravity currents flowing over a deep porous medium. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 440, 359–380.
  • Chung CA & Worster MG 2002 Steady state chimneys in a mushy layer. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 455, 387–411.
  • Rempel AW, Wetlaufer JS & Worster MG 2004 Premelting dynamics in a continuum model of frost heave. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 498, 227–244.
  • Worster MG 2004 Time-dependent fluxes across double-diffusive interfaces. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 505, 287–307.
  • Notz D, Wettlaufer JS & Worster MG 2005 A non-destructive method for measuring the salinity and solid fraction of growing sea ice in situ. J. Glac. 51(172), 159–166.
  • Peppin SSL, Elliot JAW & Worster MG 2006 Solidification of colloidal suspensions. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 554, 147–166.
  • Peppin SSL, Huppert HE & Worster MG 2008 Steady-state solidification of aqueous ammonium chloride. Journal of Fluid Mechanics 599, 465–476.

Review articles

  • The dynamics of mushy layers (1992) In Interactive Dynamics of Convection and Solidification. NATO ASI Series E219, 113–138. Kluwer.
  • Convection in mushy layers (1997) Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 29, 91–122.
  • Solidification of Fluids. (2000) In Perspectives in Fluid Dynamics – a Collective Introduction to Current Research. Edited by GK Batchelor, HK Moffatt and MG Worster. pp. 393–446. CUP.
  • Interfaces on all scales. (2002) In Interfaces for the 21st Century, edited by M.K. Smith, M.J.Miksis, G.P. Neitzel, G.B. McFadden & D.R. Canright. Imperial College Press. Premelting dynamics. (2006) Ann. Rev. Fluid Mech. 38, 427–452. (with JS Wettlaufer).
  • Ice. (2007) Euromech newsletter 32, 19–25.

Other Activities

Publications

Two-dimensional viscous gravity currents flowing over a deep porous medium
JM Acton, HE Huppert, MG Worster
– Journal of Fluid Mechanics
(2001)
440,
359
Interfacial premelting and the thermomolecular force: thermodynamic buoyancy.
AW Rempel, JS Wettlaufer, MG Worster
– Physical Review Letters
(2001)
87,
885011
Diffusion-controlled solidification of a ternary melt from a cooled boundary
A Aitta, HE Huppert, MG Worster
– Journal of Fluid Mechanics
(2001)
432,
201
Possible displacement of the climate signal in ancient ice by premelting and anomalous diffusion
AW Rempel, ED Waddington, JS Wettlaufer, MG Worster
– Nature
(2001)
411,
568
Solidification in ternary systems
A Aitta, HE Huppert, MG Worster
– INTERACTIVE DYNAMICS OF CONVECTION AND SOLIDIFICATION
(2001)
113
Mushy zones with fully developed chimneys
TP Schulze
– Interactive Dynamics of Convection and Solidification
(2001)
71
Particle trapping at an advancing solidification front with interfacial-curvature effects
AW Rempel, MG Worster
– Journal of Crystal Growth
(2001)
223,
420
Solidifying sessile water droplets
WW Schultz, MG Worster, DM Anderson
– INTERACTIVE DYNAMICS OF CONVECTION AND SOLIDIFICATION
(2001)
209
Interfaces on all scales
MG Worster
– INTERACTIVE DYNAMICS OF CONVECTION AND SOLIDIFICATION
(2001)
69
Solidification of leads: Theory, experiment, and field observations
JS Wettlaufer, MG Worster, HE Huppert
– Journal of Geophysical Research: Oceans
(2000)
105,
1123
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Research Group

Theoretical Geophysics

Room

H1.09

Telephone

01223 330850