FREDERIC VAN WIJLAND - Dynamical Phase Transitions

• Coloquios

Frédéric van Wijland.

Université Paris Diderot (Paris 7).

Jueves 2/11/2017, 14 hs. 

Aula Seminario, 2do piso, Pab. I. 

The machinery of statistical mechanics allows us to understand the existence of phase transitions among equilibrium states. My purpose is to discuss the ways and means to quantify and characterize the possibility of various dynamical regimes -or phases- in classical systems. While the mathematical origin of these methods dates back to the 1970's, it is only in the last 15 years that they have been implemented on actual physical systems. Connections will be made with the theory of quantum phase transitions. I will illustrate these ideas on a system of simple random walkers on a line. This will take us from the ferromagnetic XXZ chain at finite magnetization to a simple mechanical pendulum.