Pierre Raphaël

Pierre Raphaël is the Herchel Smith Professor of Pure Mathematics at the Department of Pure Mathematics and Mathematical Statistics (DPMMS) at the University of Cambridge, where he joined in 2019. His academic career spans prestigious institutions including École Polytechnique, University of Cergy-Pontoise, Princeton University, and various research positions in France before his appointment at Cambridge.

Professor Raphaël's research lies at the border between physics and pure mathematics, focusing on understanding energy concentration mechanisms and singularity formation during the propagation of non-linear waves. His work is deeply connected to fundamental nonlinear structures occurring in electromagnetism, astrophysics and turbulent fluid flows. He has made significant contributions to the mathematical analysis of nonlinear partial differential equations, particularly in understanding blow-up phenomena and singularity formation.

His publications reveal a consistent research trajectory focused on nonlinear wave phenomena, with particular emphasis on energy concentration mechanisms and singularity formation across various mathematical models. His work spans multiple areas including nonlinear Schrödinger equations, heat equations, Korteweg-de Vries equations, and harmonic heat flows, demonstrating his expertise in analyzing critical and supercritical regimes where singularities may form.

• Grand Prix Alexandre Joannides 2014 from the French Academy of Sciences
• Royal Society Wolfson Fellowship 2019
• Invited Speaker at International Congress of Mathematicians 2014
• ERC Advance Grant recipient

Professor Raphaël has secured significant research funding including European Research Council grants, demonstrating his leadership in the field. His research group at Cambridge focuses on singularity formation for nonlinear PDEs, as evidenced by the conference he organized at St Catharine's College in September 2024. His work bridges pure mathematics with physical applications, particularly in understanding extreme regimes of nonlinear wave propagation.