Andrea Amato, UNIBO

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/andrea.amato9/

When: April 14th, 2026 at 5.30 pm

Where: Seminario 1 (Dip. Mat. UNIBO)

Abstract: We study a class of mean-field control (MFC) problems with singular controls over a finite horizon, allowing for general dependence of the cost functional on the measure argument. We derive an auxiliary mean-field game (MFG) with singular controls, which we refer to as a potential MFG, and show that, under suitable convexity assumptions, any solution to this potential MFG yields a solution to the original MFC problem. We apply this general result to a version of the classical Monotone Follower Problem by I. Karatzas and S. E. Shreve (SIAM J. Control Optim. 22(6), pp. 856–877, 1984) with scalar mean-field interaction. The associated potential MFG with singular controls is solved by exploiting its connection with optimal stopping for the optimization step and by a suitable application of the Kakutani–Fan–Glicksberg fixed-point theorem. In the case of strategic complementarities, the mean-field equilibrium (and hence the optimal policy of the original MFC problem) is characterized by a continuous nonincreasing free boundary that uniquely solves a nonlinear integral equation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first paper to provide a complete characterization of the optimal policy in a finite-horizon mean-field singular stochastic control problem. Based on a ongoing joint work with Giorgio Ferrari and Federico Cannerozzi

Federico Giangolini, UNIBO

https://www.unibo.it/sitoweb/federico.giangolini2/

When: April 21th, 2026 at 4 pm

Where: Seminario 1 (Dip. Mat. UNIBO)

Abstract: Fluid dynamics is at the heart of almost every engineering challenge, and it all starts with the Navier-Stokes equations. In this talk, we will break down these equations from their basic derivation, based on the simple idea of conserving mass and momentum, to how we actually solve them in the real world using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). We will look at the two most common ways to translate these complex formulas into computer-friendly code: the Finite Element Method (FEM) and the Finite Volume Method (FVM).

We will briefly explore the world of turbulence. In most practical applications, fluid flow is chaotic and unpredictable, making it nearly impossible for a computer to track every single swirl. To get around this, we introduce the Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) approach. We will discuss how this method simplifies the problem but also creates the well-known "closure problem", where we need specific turbulence models to fill in the mathematical gaps.

The final segment focuses on the frontier of Nuclear Engineering, analyzing the specific challenges posed by Generation IV reactors, and how advanced CFD models are used to predict thermal-hydraulic behavior within the reactor core.

Luca Melzi, Imperial College London

https://profiles.imperial.ac.uk/l.melzi24

When: May 12th, 2026 at 3 pm

Where: Seminario 1 (Dip. Mat. UNIBO)

Abstract: TBA