Large Deviations and Metastability

ISBN-13: 9780521591638 / Angielski / Twarda / 2005 / 528 str.

Enzo Olivieri; Maria Eulalia Vares; G. -C Rota

Opis

This self-contained account of the main results in large deviation theory includes recent developments and emphasizes the Freidlin-Wentzell results on small random perturbations. Metastability is described on physical grounds, followed by the development of more exacting approaches to its description. The first part of the book then develops such pertinent tools as the theory of large deviations which is used to provide a physically relevant dynamical description of metastability. Written for graduate students, this book affords an excellent route into contemporary research as well.

Recenzje

'This impressive monograph provides a quite complete survey of the topic of metastability and will certainly be a very useful reference for all research activity in this field.' Publication of the International Statistical Institute

Spis treści

Preface; 1. Large deviations: basic results; 2. Small random perturbations of dynamical systems: basic estimates of Freidlin and Wentzell; 3. Large deviations and statistical mechanics; 4. Metastability I: general description, the Curie-Weiss model and contact processes; 5. Metastability II: the models of Freidlin and Wentzell; 6. Reversible Markov chains in the Freidlin-Wentzell regime; 7. Metastable behaviour for lattice spin models at low temperature; Bibliography; Index.