Tristan Buckmaster

Tristan Buckmaster is an Australian mathematician working at New York University. His main contribution to the Navier–Stokes problem is related to proving non-uniqueness of weak solutions. Together with Vlad Vicol in 2019, he applied the method of convex integration, originally developed for the Euler equations, to the Navier–Stokes equations. They showed that there exist weak solutions with prescribed energy that are not unique, and that one can construct solutions with anomalous energy dissipation. This result was an important step in understanding that weak solutions of Navier–Stokes can behave pathologically, which contrasts with the expected smoothness of strong solutions. Furthermore, in 2026, together with Elgindi, Buckmaster proved the possibility of finite-time blowup for the Euler equations with smooth force, which also sheds light on the mechanisms of singularities in fluid dynamics.

Biography

Tristan Buckmaster is an Australian mathematician. He was educated in Australia, then worked at various universities, including Princeton University, before moving to New York University (NYU). He is known for his work in fluid dynamics equations, especially on applying convex integration methods to the Euler and Navier–Stokes equations. He is one of the leading experts on regularity and non-uniqueness problems in fluid dynamics.

Key discoveries

Together with Vlad Vicol, proved non-uniqueness of weak solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations using convex integration (2019).
Together with Elgindi, proved the possibility of finite-time blowup for the Euler equations with smooth force (2026).
Contributed to the proof of Onsager's conjecture on the regularity threshold for the Euler equations.

Biography

Key discoveries

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