Scaling limits in statistical mechanics and microstructures in continuum mechanics (Q933616)

This mathematical physics oriented treatise on classical equilibrium and near-equilibrium statistical mechanics of continuum systems, at various -- microscopic, mesoscopic and macroscopic scales -- addresses a large research area whose development was dominated by the Moscow school of (Dobrushin, Sinai, Pirogov). The author takes an effort to make accessible a variety of problems and mathematical techniques involved in describing how a continuum description emerges from mesoscopic and microscopic models. Technically that refers to large scale phenomena in statistical mechanics and their mathematical formulations in terms of thermodynamic and hydrodynamic limits. The book is intended to both (mathematical) physics and mathematical communities, hence intentionally builds bridges between rigorous mathematical statements and a physical intuition supported by extensive studies of the classical Ising model. The structure of the related set of Dobrushin-Lanford-Ruelle measures was here a pre-requisite before an issue of phase transitions has been addressed. Such concepts like e.g. Peierls argument or Dobrushin uniqueness theorem, find their place and set foundations for the remaining part of the book. Large emphasis is set upon interfaces and their structure to see how the concept develops on various levels of description. There, such issues like scalings, coarse graining, free energy functionals make a bridge between mesoscopic and continuum theories. An analysis of the surface tension for the Lebowitz-Penrose free energy functional allows to tackle an isue of the shape of interface, in terms of instantons. The mesosocopic theory is presented in part II of the book by studying a non-local version of the Ginzburg-Landau functional, here termed the L-P one, with a focus on an impact of Kac potentials. The remaining part of the book addresses variational methods (these are characteristic of the mesocopic theory) in application to the Pirogov-Sinai theory of phase transitions in lattice (e.g. Ising) and continuum models with Kac potentials. The Lebowitz-Mazel-Presutti model of particles systems in continuum is investigated in detail. Energy estimates, surface corrections to pressure, Dobrushin's relativized uniqueness and phase transitions are established. Technically difficult problems of the DRL measures, their translation invariance and of the ergodic decomposition were moved to the subsequent chapter. The book does not focus on dynamical phenomena, however a chapter on stochastic (Glauber, spin-flip) dynamics should be mentioned, as a small detour from the main line of reasoning. That aims at indicating that the dynamics always enters into the macroscopic and macroscoopic theories: a derivation of the macroscopic limit for Glauber dynamics with Kac potentials is presented.