{\rtf1\ansi\ansicpg1252\cocoartf949\cocoasubrtf540
{\fonttbl\f0\fswiss\fcharset0 Helvetica;}
{\colortbl;\red255\green255\blue255;}
\paperw11900\paperh16840\margl1440\margr1440\vieww9000\viewh8400\viewkind0
\deftab720
\pard\pardeftab720\ql\qnatural

\f0\fs24 \cf0 Christian Maes\
\
Goal functions and Variational principles, from analytical mechanics to irreversible thermodynamics.\
\
Variational principles and the exploitation of goal functions for characterizing the dynamics of a system are ubiquitous in mathematical physics.\'a0 Their origin is somewhere with Maupertuis' and Fermat's principle, becoming a crucial tool in analytical mechanics.\'a0 We will discuss what becomes of these principles when dissipation is added, and how analysis meets probability theory in the characterization of complex behaviour.}