The phase transition of the directed polymer in dimension $3$ is smooth, and we can quantify it

Hubert Lacoin (IMPA)

Sep 21. 2026, 15:45 — 16:35

 

When $d\ge 3$, the directed polymer a in random environment on $\mathbb Z^d$ is known to display a phase transition from a diffusive phase, known as \textit{weak disorder} to a localized phase, referred to as \textit{strong disorder}. This transition is encoded by the behavior of the the free energy of the model, defined by

$$\mathfrak f(\beta):=\lim_{N\to \infty} (1/n)\log W^{\beta}_n$$

where $W^{\beta}_n$ is the normalized partition function for the directed polymer of length $n$. More precisely weak disorder corresponds to $\mathfrak f(\beta)=0$ and strong disorder to $\mathfrak f(\beta)<0$. Monotonicity and continuity of $\mathfrak f$ implies that there exists $\beta_c\in [0,\infty]$ such that weak disorder is equivalent to $\beta\in [0,\beta_c]$. Furthermore $\beta_c>0$ if and only if $d\ge 3$. 

We will present recent  bounds on the free-energy obtained near critically. More precisely

 $$ \exp( u^{-1+o(1)})   \mathfrak f(\beta_c+u)\le \exp(- u^{-\gamma(d)+o(1)})$$

where $\gamma(d)=\frac{d+2}{8d}$.

 

Further Information
Venue:
ESI Boltzmann Lecture Hall
Associated Event:
Statistical Mechanics and Combinatorics of Discrete Planar Structures (Thematic Programme)
Organizer(s):
Nathanael Berestycki (U of Vienna)
Michael Drmota (TU Wien)
Ilse Fischer (U of Vienna)
Mihyun Kang (TU Graz)
Astrid Kollros (U of Vienna)
Christian Krattenthaler (U of Vienna)
Marcin Lis (TU Wien)
Benedikt Stufler (TU Wien)
Fabio Toninelli (TU Wien)