Metastability of reversible finite state Markov processes (Q555015)

Metastability is a phenomenon appearing in thermodynamic systems close to a first order phase transition. Based on previous work of them [J. Statist. Physics 140, 1065--1116 (2010; Zbl 1223.60061)], the authors prove the metastable behaviour of finite state continuous-time Markov chains under minimal assumptions on the jump rates. To illustrate the result, they derive the metastable behaviour of the Ising model with a small magnetic field at very low temperature.