The double dimer model with quaternions

The “dimer model” is the study of the set of perfect matchings (dimer coverings) of a graph. For planar graphs, it is possible to count the number of dimer coverings using determinants. This technique has led to a very rich theory of the dimer coverings of Z2 and other periodic planar graphs.

The “double dimer model” is obtained by superimposing two independent uniform dimer coverings, resulting in a set of loops (and doubled edges). Typical probability questions in this setting are: how long are the loops and where do they go? By introducing quaternionic variables in this model one can measure certain “topological” quantities, and in particular answer this second question for planar graphs.

We show how to use these ideas to prove the conformal invariance of double-dimer loops in Z2 (in the scaling limit of small mesh size).

Speaker Details

Rick Kenyon got his Ph.D. from Princeton University, worked in France at CNRS,
at UBC in Vancouver, and is currently at Brown university.
His main interests are in probability and geometry.

Date:
Speakers:
Rick Kenyon
Affiliation:
Brown University

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