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Universality of random planar maps and trees

Project description

Research into random planar maps could solve key problems in statistical physics

Planar maps are a booming research field at the intersection between probability theory, geometry, combinatorics, complex analysis and statistical physics. They are embeddings of topological maps into the plane, subdividing it into vertices, edges and faces. As discrete random surfaces, they could converge on limit surfaces. The EU-funded UniversalMap project aims to demonstrate that embeddings of certain random planar maps converge to Liouville quantum gravity – a class of natural random surface models, which has its roots in conformal field theory. Combining expertise from different fields, the project also plans to prove the universality principles of embedded random planar maps. Project research could offer tailored solutions to central problems in statistical physics, such as providing distance measurements of an n-step self-avoiding walk.

Objective

The PI proposes to study a variety of open problems involving random planar maps and trees. This is a booming field at the intersection of probability, geometry, statistical physics, combinatorics and complex analysis. It has grown tremendously in the last two decades, in depth and breadth, and has seen breakthroughs on long-standing classical problems.

The PI's first goal is to study the universality of embedded random planar maps and prove their convergence to what is known as Liouville quantum gravity, a class of random surfaces predicted by physicists to be the universal limit to such discrete random surfaces. Various map embedding mechanisms will be studied such as harmonic embedding, square-tiling, circle packing and others. The second goal is to solve problems concerning stochastic processes (such as random walks, percolation and the Ising model) on embedded random planar maps. This will shed light on the behavior of the same stochastic processes on regular lattices (such as the square or triangular grids) due to the non-rigorous Knizhnik-Polyakov-Zamolodchikov correspondence, a conjectural formula from the physics literature relating the behavior of critical statistical physics models on random lattices to their behavior on regular lattices. We will gain progress on these inspiring yet non-rigorous predictions by developing various probabilistic, geometric and complex analytic tools aimed to show that instabilities in the embeddings cancel out due to the randomness of the planar maps.

This project has the potential to lead to the solution of the most central problems in two-dimensional statistical physics, such as estimating the typical displacement of the self-avoiding walk, proving conformal invariance for critical percolation on the square lattice and many others.

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Keywords

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Programme(s)

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Topic(s)

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Funding Scheme

Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.

ERC-COG - Consolidator Grant

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Call for proposal

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(opens in new window) ERC-2020-COG

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Host institution

TEL AVIV UNIVERSITY
Net EU contribution

Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.

€ 1 826 250,00
Total cost

The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.

€ 1 826 250,00

Beneficiaries (1)

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