Conformal Invariance: an Introduction to Loops, Interfaces and Stochastic Loewner Evolution : An Introduction to Loops, Interfaces and Stochastic Loewner Evolution

by Henkel, Malte; Karevksi, Dragi

• ISBN13: 9783642279331
• ISBN10: 3642279333
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2012-04-30
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Conformally invariance has proven spectacularly useful for the understanding of two-dimensional phase transitions of classical systems at equilibrium. This volume presents an introduction to non-local observables such as loops and interfaces. It is explained how they arise from specific physical contexts and how to use conformal invariance to determine their properties. Stochastic Loewner Evolution represents an important conceptual advance, whose consequences provoked considerable interest by physicists and mathematicians alike. In this book, after an introductory chapter on the elements of conformal invariance, both the conceptual foundations of Stochastic Loewner Evolution as well as extensive numerical tests will be described. This is followed by applications to geometric phase transitions such as percolation or polymer systems, with particular attention to surface effects. The informal style of the book makes its contents accessible to graduate students and non-specialist readers from other fields.