Combinatorial physics, in the context of this workshop, refers to both the use of combinatorial theory to interpret or understand phenomena in physics, and conversely the use of techniques from physics to solve purely combinatorial problems. On the physics side, the general areas include statistical mechanics, quantum field theory and discrete quantum gravity, with some more specific areas being asymmetric exclusion processes, integrable models and renormalisation. On the combinatorics side, the general areas include algebraic, enumerative and geometric combinatorics, with some more specific areas being alternating sign matrices, cluster algebras, graph polynomials and planar maps.
This workshop aims to bring together mathematical physicists and pure mathematicians, working on a range of topics within combinatorial physics, in a forum which provides formal talks as well as opportunities for informal discussions.
The intended scope of the workshop is similar to that of the recently-founded Annales de l’Institut Henri Poincaré D: Combinatorics, Physics and their Interactions, and participants are encouraged to submit suitable articles to this journal.
The workshop is a group event for the Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Group of the Institute of Physics.
Financial support for the workshop is provided by the Mathematical and Theoretical Physics Group of the Institute of Physics, the London Mathematical Society and the Wales Institute of Mathematical and Computational Sciences.
