Fluctuations for the Ginzburg-Landau \(\nabla \phi\) interface model on a bounded domain (Q651406)

A general model is considered for a (2+1)-dimensional effective (Ginzburg-Landau) interface. The main result of this paper is the central limit theorem for linear functionals of the height of the interface, defined in terms of a massless field on a subgraph induced in a bounded domain with a smooth boundary. The covariance matrix is explicitly given in the proof, which is a novelty for gradient Gibbs states. The boundary conditions are considered to be a continuous perturbation of a macroscopic tilt. It is proven that fluctuations of linear functionals of the interface height about the tilt converge to a Gaussian free field. Major techniques are developed as a preperatory step to resolve the conjecture due to \textit{S. Sheffield} [Random surfaces. Astérisque 304. Paris: Société Mathématique de France (SMF) (2005; Zbl 1104.60002)] that the zero contour lines of the height are asymptotically described by a conformally invariant random curve. This issue is postponed to a subsequent article.