`How To Pick A Curve At Random' or `Interfaces In 2D'

Robert Bauer, Associate Professor of Mathematics, UIUC

Random interfaces, for example coast lines, occur in many contexts. If they arise from a planar statistical mechanical system at criticality, then their continuous scaling limit is conjectured to have strong statistical invariance properties or symmetries. What are the scaling limits? And does there exist a mathematical description of these limits? It does, and it turns out to combine some beautiful classical objects from complex analysis and probability. The talk will be geared towards a general audience.

Audio