MAKUTU

Numerical geosciences encompass a large variety of scientific activities tackling societal challenges like water resources, energy supply, climate change, etc. They are based upon observations, physical modeling and accurate mathematical formulations. The tremendous progresses of scientific computing have allowed the addition of extensive numerical simulations which provide tools based on wave measurements to study and possibly monitor complex environments that are otherwise difficult to probe and even fathomless e.g. the subsurface or the interior of stars. Bridging the gap between experimental measurements and numerical simulations is an important objective of Makutu, which will pursue a balance between accuracy and efficiency depending on the application domains in consideration. A common strategy will be to develop frugal models using mathematical methods (asymptotic methods, artificial boundary conditions, reduction methods…), and efficient numerical schemes (in time and harmonic domains, with analytical and high order numerical methods). Makutu proposes a research program to develop numerical software packages for retrieving shapes and/or physical properties of complex media with a particular focus on the Earth and its natural reservoirs.  For this, the team is collaborating with experimental geophysicists from the LFCR (Laboratory of Complex Fluids and their Reservoirs, UPPA) who help to assess the impact of parameters on the wave propagation. In addition to geophysical setting, Makutu's research program includes two other topics: solar imaging and musical acoustics. For solar imaging, modeling is of great importance and the team is working with different equations in a new mathematical formalism. New simulation codes are under development with a long-term view to solve inverse problems. Given the similarities that exist between seismic and solar imaging methods, software development is carried out in-house using many of the skills acquired by the team in geophysical imaging. Regarding modeling of musical instruments, the size of the objects and the wavelengths considered are different from geophysical or solar contexts, but similar physical principles and theoretical aspects of models and numerical methods are applicable. Last but not least, parameter reduction and great precision required in the simulation and the possibility to easily compare numerical and experimental data make them an ideal topic to develop new research related to modeling and simulating wave propagation. To address the above research agenda,  the team gathers applied mathematicians and acousticians who have long working experience in wave propagation. The team is jointly shared by the University of Pau and Pays de l’Adour (UPPA) and Inria. The majority of  Makutu's members are located in Pau. The team is therefore attached to LMAP (Mathematics and Applications Laboratory in Pau, UMR CNRS 5142). However, some members of the team are located in Talence, in the Inria building of the Bordeaux campus. The choice of Makutu's principal location in Pau is fully justified by the long-term involvement of the city of Pau in Geosciences, which offers an important network of companies working in the geo-resources sector. In particular, the company Total is our main industrial partner with whom we aim at developing activities on energy transition.