24/04/2024, 17:00 — 18:00 — Online
Alan Rapoport, Utrecht University
Fermionic fields, Abelian sandpiles and uniform spanning trees: A connection
Physicists and mathematicians have for decades been interested in the Abelian sandpile model (ASM), a simple dynamical system that exhibits self-organized criticality. In the present work we asked us the question: what function of a Gaussian field produces the same scaling limit of its joint moments as the height-one field of the ASM? The squared norm of the gradient of the discrete Gaussian free field (GFF) almost does the job, with a subtle yet important difference. It turns out that, if one replaces the variables by Grassmann (or fermionic) objects, we obtain the exact same moments, which begs the follow-up question: why? What is the relationship between these two models? We will show that this relationship lies on the uniform spanning tree (UST) model. This observation will allow us to extend the calculations to square lattices in any dimensions, as well as the triangular and hexagonal lattices in d=2, pointing towards a potential universality property. We also extend our results by giving exact closed-form expressions for the scaling limit of the PMF of the degree field of the UST in these lattices. Joint work with L. Chiarini (U Durham), A. Cipriani (UCL), R.S. Hazra (U Leiden), W.M. Ruszel (U Utrecht).
