Earthquake Physics 
Yuval Tal 
The physical process of earthquakes lies in the geological structure of faults and the deformation processes that occur therein in response to tectonic loading. It is increasingly apparent that faults are zones with a complex internal structure that typically involves localized deformation on non-planar slip surfaces within a fault core surrounded by damage zone of distributed fractures, both with heterogeneous rock composition. Those structural complexities, together with the heterogeneous frictional properties, temperature, and pore pressure affect the rupture process during earthquakes or aseismic deformation. Using numerical simulations and laboratory experiments, my group aim to develop more realistic physics-based earthquake source models that account for the complexities associated with natural fault zones.