Time：15:00, Wednesday, January 7 2026
Venue: E14-212
Speaker：Hang Du, MIT
Title：Recent progress on Potts and random cluster models on locally-tree-like graphs
Abstract：In this talk I will survey recent progress on the Potts model and the random-cluster model on locally tree-like graphs, focusing in particular on the locally regular-tree-like regime. These developments include the resolution of the long-standing Bethe prediction for the free-energy density as well as conjectures concerning the weak limits of the associated Gibbs measures. I will highlight how combinatorial and probabilistic ideas can be combined to shed light on the non-rigorous statistical physics insights. This talk is based on several recent work by different groups, including my joint work with Yanxin Zhou (Stanford).
