Fortuin-Kastelyn type representations for Threshold Gaussian and Stable Vectors

With Jeff Steif (Chalmers)

Fortuin-Kastelyn type representations for Threshold Gaussian and Stable Vectors: aka Divide and Color processes (joint work with Malin Palö Forsström)

We consider the following simple model: one starts with a finite (or countable) set V,
a random partition of V and a parameter p in [0,1]. The “Generalized Divide and Color Model”
is the {0,1}-valued process indexed by V obtained by independently, for each partition element
in the random partition chosen, with probability p assigning all the elements of the partition
element the value 1, and with probability 1−p, assigning all the elements of the partition
element the value 0. Many models fall into this context:
(1) the 0 external field Ising model (where the random partition is given by FK percolation),
(2) the stationary distributions for the voter model (where the random partition is given by
coalescing random walks), (3) random walk in random scenery and (4)
the original “Divide and Color Model” introduced and studied by Olle Häggström. In earlier work, together with Johan Tykesson, we studied what one could say about such processes. In joint work with Malin Palö Forsström, we study the question of which threshold Gaussian
and stable vectors have such a representation: (A threshold Gaussian (stable) vector is a vector
obtained by taking a Gaussian (stable) vector and a threshold h and looking where
the vector exceeds the threshold h). The answer turns out to be quite varied depending
on properties of the vector and the threshold; it turns out that h=0 behaves quite
differently than h different from 0. Among other results, in the large h regime, we obtain a
phase transition in the stability exponent alpha for stable vectors and the critical value is
alpha=1/2. I will also briefly describe some related results by Forsström concerning such questions for
the Ising Model with a nonzero external field.

Add to your calendar or Include in your list