Metastability of stochastic partial differential equations and Fredholm determinants (Q2212847)

Summary: Metastability occurs when a thermodynamic system, such assupercooled water (which is liquid even below freezing point), lands on the ``wrong'' side of a phase transition, and remains in a state which differs from its equilibrium state for a considerable time. There are numerous mathematical models describing this phenomenon, including lattice models with stochastic dynamics. In this text, we will be interested in metastability in parabolic stochastic partial differential equations (SPDEs). Some of these equations are ill posed, and only thanks to very recent progress in the theory of so-called singular SPDEs does one know how to construct solutions via a renormalisation procedure. The study of metastability in these systems reveals unexpected links with the theory of spectral determinants, including Fredholm and Carleman-Fredholm determinants.