John Wheater

Abstract:

We consider a simple model of d families of scalar field interacting with geometry in two dimensions. The geometry is locally flat and has only global degrees of freedom. When d<0 the universe is locally two dimensional but for d>0 it collapses to a one dimensional manifold. The model has some, but not all, of the characteristics believed to be features of the full theory of conformal matter interacting with quantum gravity which has local geometric degrees of freedom.

Abstract:

We introduce a simple model for the size distribution of avalanches based on the idea that the front of an avalanche can be described by a directed random walk. The model captures some of the qualitative features of earthquakes, avalanches and other self-organized critical phenomena in one dimension. We find scaling laws relating the frequency, size and width of avalanches and an exponent $4/3$ in the size distribution law.

Abstract:

We study the interface between two different Z(3) vacua in the deconfined phase of SU(3) pure gauge theory in 2+1 dimensions just above the critical temperature. In simulations of the Euclidean lattice gauge theory formulation of the system we measure the fluctuations of the interface as the critical temperature is approached and as a function of system size. We show that the intrinsic width of the interface remains small even very close to the critical temperature. Some dynamical exponents which govern the interaction of the interface with our Monte Carlo algorithm are also estimated. We conclude that the Z(3) interface has properties broadly similar to those in many other comparable statistical mechanical systems.