Videos

The dynamics of the 2D SOS model

Presenter
February 23, 2012
Keywords:
  • mathematical statistical mechanics
  • probability theory
  • percolation
  • phase transitions
  • scaling laws
  • SLE
  • Ising model
  • material interfaces
MSC:
  • 82C20
  • 82C26
  • 82C27
  • 82C05
  • 82C44
  • 82C43
  • 82Cxx
  • 82-xx
  • 82C24
Abstract
We present new results on the (2+1)-dimensional Solid-On-Solid model at low temperatures. Bricmont, El-Mellouki and Froelich (1986) showed that in the presence of a floor there is an entropic repulsion phenomenon, lifting the surface to a height which is logarithmic in the side of the box. We refine this and establish the typical height of the SOS surface is precisely the floor of [1/(4\beta)\log n], where n is the side-length of the box and \beta is the inverse-temperature. In contrast to the 1D behavior, the Glauber dynamics for SOS is exponentially slow, as it must pass through a series of meta-stable states in order to rise from an initially flat configuration to its final height. Based on joint works with Pietro Caputo, Eyal Lubetzky, Fabio Martinelli and Fabio Toninelli.