Scientific profile
Tommaso Ruggeri is an Emeritus Professor of Mathematical Physics at the University of Bologna.
His research has focused on the mathematical structure of continuum theories,
with particular attention to nonlinear hyperbolic systems and nonequilibrium thermodynamics.
He contributed to the entropy symmetrization of systems of balance laws,
to the theory of acceleration and shock waves, and to the development of
Rational Extended Thermodynamics. In General Relativity, with
Yvonne Choquet-Bruhat, he proved the hyperbolicity of the
3+1 system of Einstein equations. With Ingo Müller he co-authored the monograph
Rational Extended Thermodynamics. His later work extended the theory to
polyatomic gases, mixtures, relativistic models, nonlinear viscoelasticity
and non-Newtonian fluids.
Hyperbolic systems
Rational Extended Thermodynamics
Shock waves
Continuum thermomechanics
General Relativity
Relativistic thermodynamics
Viscoelasticity
Non-Newtonian fluids
Research themes
Hyperbolic balance laws and nonlinear waves
Convex entropy, symmetric hyperbolic formulations, characteristic fields, acceleration waves, shocks, sub-shocks and dissipative stability.
Rational Extended Thermodynamics
Macroscopic and kinetic foundations of nonequilibrium thermodynamics for monatomic and polyatomic gases, mixtures, dense gases and relativistic systems.
Continuum thermomechanics
Constitutive theory, finite-relaxation models, nonlinear viscoelasticity and non-Newtonian fluids with hyperbolic structure.
General Relativity and hyperbolic Einstein equations
With Yvonne Choquet-Bruhat, he established the hyperbolicity of the 3+1 system of
Einstein equations, a contribution to the mathematical Cauchy problem in General Relativity.
Communications in Mathematical Physics 89 (1983), 269–275.
Relativistic thermodynamics and gas dynamics
Relativistic gas dynamics, kinetic theory, moment systems and Rational Extended Thermodynamics of relativistic gases.
