Seminar Details
Intersections of Statistical Mechanics and Combinatorics
- Start Date: April 27, 2022
- Event Start Time: 12:15 PM
- Event End Time: 1:15 PM
- Seminar Series: Graduate Combinatorics Seminar
- Presenter(s): Corrine Yap - Rutgers University
- Event Location: Mathematics Graduate Student Lounge -- 7th Floor | Rutgers University | Hill Center | Mathematics Department
- Event Additional Info: <p><strong>This seminar is being held in person in The Hill Center,<br /> Mathematics Graduate Student Lounge - 7th Floor<br /> and online via a simultaneous broadcast on Zoom.</strong><br /> Zoom Link: <a href="https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/92129147469?pwd=ZGFLRFhnekpIMDdDQ3Rna2kyZ3g2dz09" target="_blank">https://rutgers.zoom.us/j/92129147469?pwd=ZGFLRFhnekpIMDdDQ3Rna2kyZ3g2dz09</a></p> <p>Meeting ID: 921 2914 7469</p> <p>Password: 770605</p>
- Presentation Type: Stand Alone Presentation
- Abstract:
18 months ago, I didn't know any statistical mechanics, and now it's my favorite topic. My goal for this talk is to show you why statistical mechanics (also known as statistical physics) is not only relevant but also really neat for us combinatorialists, even those like me whose knowledge of physics is < epsilon.
We'll first introduce the general setup of spin systems in statistical mechanics and combinatorially relevant examples such as the Ising, Potts, and hardcore models. We'll then explore some algorithmic questions in the context of the Potts model and emerging methods to tackle these types of questions, such as the cluster expansion and container-like methods. In particular, I'll talk about some of my recent work in this area, joint with Charlie Carlson, Ewan Davies, Nico Fraiman, Alexandra Kolla, and Aditya Potukuchi.