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SUMMARY:Statistical mechanics of large optimisation problems - Prof. Giorg
 io Parisi\, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza'
DTSTART:20071018T130000Z
DTEND:20071018T140000Z
UID:TALK8714@talks.cam.ac.uk
CONTACT:Dr Fabien Petitcolas
DESCRIPTION:*Abstract*: There are many points in common between statistica
 l mechanics of disorder systems and optimisation of large random problems.
 \n\nIn the recent years many results have been obtained by applying the te
 chniques developed in the study of disordered systems to optimisation theo
 ry. This cross-fertilisation process between two different fields has been
  quite fruitful.\n\nStatistical mechanics tools are very sophisticated and
  powerful: they have an intermediate status between heuristic and rigorous
  techniques. By using them\, one can obtain exact results for optimisation
  theory. Better algorithms for solving optimisation problems can be found.
  The results obtained by constraint optimisation problems are particularly
  interesting.\n\n*Biography*: Giorgio Parisi is Professor of Quantum Theor
 ies\, Università degli Studi di Roma 'La Sapienza'. He graduated from Rom
 e University in 1970.\n\nHe is co-author of the book “Spin glass theory 
 and beyond” that has been very influential on the theory of statistical 
 mechanics of random systems.\n\nGiorgio Parisi has authored about 450 scie
 ntific publications and about 60 contributions to congresses or schools. H
 is main research activity is in the field of elementary particles\, theory
  of phase transitions and statistical mechanics\, mathematical physics and
  string theory\, disordered systems (spin glasses and complex systems)\, n
 eural networks\, theoretical immunology\, computers and very large scale s
 imulations of quantum chromodynamics (the APE project)\, non equilibrium s
 tatistical physics\, optimisation and animal behaviour.\n\nIn his work he 
 has also stressed the importance of large scale simulations for supporting
  the progress of the theory and for a meaningful comparison of the theory 
 with experiments.
LOCATION:Microsoft Research Ltd\, 7 J J Thomson Avenue (Off Madingley Road
 )\, Cambridge
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