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The Ising model. An introduction for the uninitiated.

Student-Run Research Seminar

Speaker: Bruno Nachtergaele, UC Davis
Location: 693 Kerr
Start time: Wed, Jun 2 2004, 12:10PM

The Ising model has played a pivotal role in a great number of important developments in mathematics and physics and continues to do so. This talk is *not* an overview of the dazzling variety of techniques, results, and applications of this model, but an introduction that should allow the audience easier access to and greater benefit of subsequent talks and readings involving the Ising model.

We will, of course, start by defining the model. Then, state a number of relevant mathematical questions about it and provide some elementary examples of the kind of answers that have been found.