Sharp phase transition in the random stirring model on trees (Q2343023)

The random stirring model is a stochastic process on a graph \(G=(V(G),E(G)),\) taking values from the set of permutations on the set of vertices \(V(G).\) Every edge \(e\in E(G)\) is associated with a Poisson process of rate \(1\), and the associated Poisson processes are independent. A Poissonian event at time \(t\) in one of the processes results in transposition of two vertices incident to the edge \(e\) associated with the event. The main result of the paper concerns the stirring model on a regular rooted tree with \(d\geq 2\) offsprings from each vertex. A conjecture by \textit{B. Tóth} [Lett. Math. Phys. 28, No. 1, 75--84 (1993; Zbl 0772.60103)] stating that, for sufficiently large \(d\), there exists a critical time value \(T_c(d)\) such that, if \(t<T_c(d)\), the number of vertices in the cycle containing the root \(\phi\) is almost surely finite, and it is infinite with positive probability if \(t>T_c(d)\).