Workshop

Over the last ten years there has been spectacular progress in the understanding of geometrical properties of random processes. Of particular importance in the study of these complex random systems is the aspect of their phase transition (in the wide sense of an abrupt change in macroscopic behavior caused by a small variation in some parameter) and critical phenomena, whose applications range from physics, to the performance of algorithms on networks, to the survival of a biological species. Recent advances in the scope of rigorous scaling limits for discrete random systems, most notably for 2D systems such as percolation and the Ising model via SLE, have greatly contributed to the understanding of both the critical geometry of these systems and the behavior of dynamical stochastic processes modeling their evolution. While some of the techniques used in the analysis of these systems are model-specific, there is a remarkable interplay between them. The deep connection between percolation and interacting particle systems such as the Ising and Potts models has allowed one model to successfully draw tools and rigorous theory from the other. The aim of this workshop is to share and attempt to push forward the state-of-the-art understanding of the geometry and dynamic evolution of these models, with a main focus on percolation, the random cluster model, Ising and other interacting particle systems on lattices. Bibliography (PDF)     Accommodation: A block of rooms has been reserved at the Rose Garden Inn. Reservations may be made by calling 1-800-992-9005 OR directly on their website. Click on Corporate at the bottom of the screen and when prompted enter code MATH (this code is not case sensitive). By using this code a new calendar will appear and will show MSRI rate on all room types available. A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hotel Durant. Please mention MSRI and the workshop name when making reservations via phone, fax or e-mail. If you are making your reservations on line, please go to Hotel Durant website, choose your dates of stay and enter the "123MSRI" promo code in the box. The cut-off date for reservations is Midnight on the day of Tuesday, January 24, 2012. The rate is $110 per night plus tax. MSRI has a preferred rate of $142 at the Hotel Shattuck Plaza, depending on room availability. Guests can either call the hotel's main line at 510-845-7300 and ask for the MSRI rate; or go to Hotel Shattuck Plaza and enter dates of stay at top of screen and click Book Now.  Once on the reservation page, click Preferred/Corporate Rate Accounts and input the code "MSRI11".