Enzo Marinari - Böcker

Based on the long-running Probability Theory course at the Sapienza University of Rome, this book offers a fresh and in-depth approach to probability and statistics, while remaining intuitive and accessible in style. The fundamentals of probability theory are elegantly presented, supported by numerous examples and illustrations, and modern applications are later introduced giving readers an appreciation of current research topics. The text covers distribution functions, statistical inference and data analysis, and more advanced methods including Markov chains and Poisson processes, widely used in dynamical systems and data science research. The concluding section, 'Entropy, Probability and Statistical Mechanics' unites key concepts from the text with the authors' impressive research experience, to provide a clear illustration of these powerful statistical tools in action. Ideal for students and researchers in the quantitative sciences this book provides an authoritative account of probability theory, written by leading researchers in the field.

This book comprises a unique collection of insights into Nobel laureate Giorgio Parisi's groundbreaking work across physics, ranging from high-energy physics and spin glasses to turbulence and collective animal behaviour. Originating from a series of seminars at the Sapienza University of Rome, each chapter focuses on one of Parisi's seminal contributions, penned by leading experts who highlight the depth and interdisciplinary impact of his ideas. The volume revisits widely disseminated achievements like the Altarelli-Parisi equations and replica symmetry breaking, and presents lesser-known work, revealing hidden connections between seemingly distant domains. Enhanced by lively discussions and a personal retrospective from Parisi himself, this book is both a tribute to a visionary scientist and an invitation to discover the unifying threads woven throughout modern physics. Showcasing how one thinker's creativity can reshape entire landscapes of knowledge, it is invaluable for experienced researchers and motivated graduate students in the field of theoretical physics.

The Cargese Workshop Random Surfaces and Quantum Gravity was held from May 27 to June 2, 1990. Little was known about string theory in the non-perturbative regime before Oetober 1989 when non-perturbative equations for the string partition functions were found by using methods based on the random triangulations of surfaees. This set of methods pro­ vides a deseription of non-eritical string theory or equivalently of the coupling of matter fields to quantum gravity in two dimensions. The Cargese meeting was very successful in that it provided the first opportunity to gather most of the active workers in the field for a fuH week of lectures and extensive informal discussions about these exeiting new developments. The main results were reviewed, recent advances were explained, new results and conjectures (which appear for the first time in these proceedings) were presented and discussed. Among the most important topics discussed at the workshop were: The relation of KdV theory to loop equations and the Virasoro algebra, new results in Liouville field theory, effective (1 + 1) dimensional theory for 2 - D quantum gravity coupled to c = 1 matter and its fermionization, proposal for a new geometrical interpretation of the string equation and possible definition of quantum Riemann surfaces, discussion of the string equation for the multi-matrix models, links with topological field theories of gravity, issues in using target space supersymmetry to define good theories, definition of the partition function via analytic continuation, new models of random surfaces

String theory is the candidate for the unification of all fundamental interactions including gravity. In the past few years this active field of research has developed very rapidly and in several different directions. The aim of the conference is to give an overview of the status of the art in string theory through the contributions of the major experts in this field. The main topics include: string unification and effective Lagrangians, N=2 string theories, 2-d quantum gravity, stringy black holes, topological field theory, conformal field theories, strings and quantum field theory.

About sixty years ago, the anomalous magnetic response of certain magnetic alloys drew the attention of theoretical physicists. It soon became clear that understanding these systems, now called spin glasses, would give rise to a new branch of statistical physics. As physical materials, spin glasses were found to be as useless as they were exotic. They have nevertheless been recognized as paradigmatic examples of complex systems with applications to problems as diverse as neural networks, amorphous solids, biological molecules, social and economic interactions, information theory and constraint satisfaction problems.This book presents an encyclopaedic overview of the broad range of these applications. More than 30 contributions are compiled, written by many of the leading researchers who have contributed to these developments over the last few decades. Some timely and cutting-edge applications are also discussed. This collection serves well as an introduction and summary of disordered and glassy systems for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and practitioners interested in the topic.

About sixty years ago, the anomalous magnetic response of certain magnetic alloys drew the attention of theoretical physicists. It soon became clear that understanding these systems, now called spin glasses, would give rise to a new branch of statistical physics. As physical materials, spin glasses were found to be as useless as they were exotic. They have nevertheless been recognized as paradigmatic examples of complex systems with applications to problems as diverse as neural networks, amorphous solids, biological molecules, social and economic interactions, information theory and constraint satisfaction problems.This book presents an encyclopaedic overview of the broad range of these applications. More than 30 contributions are compiled, written by many of the leading researchers who have contributed to these developments over the last few decades. Some timely and cutting-edge applications are also discussed. This collection serves well as an introduction and summary of disordered and glassy systems for advanced undergraduates, graduate students and practitioners interested in the topic.