Harold Widom's work in random matrix theory
Ivan Corwin, Percy Deift, Alexander Its
TL;DR
This paper surveys Harold Widom's influential contributions to random matrix theory, highlighting his work on sine-kernel determinants, Tracy-Widom distributions, and applications to the asymmetric simple exclusion process, emphasizing their mathematical and physical significance.
Contribution
It provides a comprehensive overview of Widom's pioneering research and its impact on the development of random matrix theory and related fields.
Findings
Development of sine-kernel determinant theory
Introduction of Tracy-Widom distribution functions
Universal applicability in mathematics and physics
Abstract
This is a survey of Harold Widom's work in random matrices. We start with his pioneering papers on the sine-kernel determinant, continue with his and Craig Tracy's groundbreaking results concerning the distribution functions of random matrix theory, touch on the remarkable universality of the Tracy-Widom distributions in mathematics and physics, and close with Tracy and Widom's remarkable work on the asymmetric simple exclusion process.
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Taxonomy
TopicsRandom Matrices and Applications · Advanced Combinatorial Mathematics · Stochastic processes and statistical mechanics