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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/S26323/01
Title: Statistical Mechanics on Graphs
Principal Investigator: Scott, Professor AD
Other Investigators:
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Mathematics
Organisation: UCL
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 February 2004 Ends: 31 July 2005 Value (£): 58,895
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Fundamentals of Computing Logic & Combinatorics
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:
Panel DatePanel NameOutcome
29 Nov 2002 Mathematics Prioritisation Panel (Science) Deferred
Summary on Grant Application Form
We propose to carry out interdisciplinary research concerning problems at the interface between combinatorics, probability, computer science and statistical mechanics. Closely related problems arise in the analysis of algorithms in computer science, in probabilistic existence proofs and the study of random structures in combinatorics, and in the theory of phase transitions in statistical physics. We intend to attack these problems using a combination of methods drawn from combinatorics, probability and mathematical physics. Particular topics that we plan to study include the independent-set polynomial for graphs, which is equivalent to the lattice gas model in statistical mechanics; and the Tutte polynomial for graphs and matroids, which is equivalent to the Potts model in statistical mechanics. In particular, we plan to bring rigorous mathematical methods to bear on conjectures concerning phase transitions that have been proposed by theoretical physicists. In addition, we propose to use techniques from combinatorics to help systematise some of the methods devised by mathematical physicists for analysing statistical-mechanical models on combinatorial structures. This work will benefit researchers in mathematics, computer science and physics by bringing into contact problems and techniques from each of these fields.
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