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SUMMARY:Phase Transitions:  Scaling\, Universality and  Renormalization - 
 Professor Leo P. Kadanoff University of Chicago and Perimeter Institute
DTSTART:20100511T134500Z
DTEND:20100511T150000Z
UID:TALK24042@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Amanda Stagg
DESCRIPTION:In present-day physics\, the renormalization method\, as devel
 oped by Kenneth G. Wilson\,  serves as the primary means for constructing 
 the connections  between theories at different length scales.This method i
 s rooted in both particle physics and the theory of phase transitions. It 
 was developed to supplement mean field theories like those developed by va
 n der Waals and Maxwell\, followed by Landau.\n\nSharp phase transitions a
 re necessarily connected with singularities in statistical mechanics\, whi
 ch in turn require infinite systems for their realization. (I call this re
 sult the extended singularity theorem.)    A discussion of this point appa
 rently marked a 1937 meeting in Amsterdam celebrating van der Waals.\n \nM
 ean field theories neither demand nor employ spatial infinities in their d
 escriptions of phase transitions.  Another theory is required that weds a 
 breaking of internal symmetries with a proper description of spatial infin
 ities. The renormalization (semi-)group provides such a wedding.  Its natu
 re is described.    The major ideas surrounding this point of view are des
 cribed including especially scaling\, universality\, and the development o
 f connections among different theories.
LOCATION:MR2\, Centre for Mathematical Sciences\, Wilberforce Road\, Cambr
 idge
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