Djordje Minic (Virginia Tech)

String Theory and Nonequilibrium Physics

In this talk I will discuss a remarkable analogy between the Jarzynski identity from non-equilibrium statistical physics and the AdS/CFT duality. I will apply the logic that leads to the Jarzynski identity to renormalization group (RG) flows of quantum field theories and then argue for the natural connection with the AdS/CFT duality

formula. This application can be in principle checked in Monte Carlo simulations of RG flows. Given the existing generalizations of the Jarzynski identity in non-equilibrium statistical physics, and the analogy between the Jarzynski identity and the AdS/CFT duality, I will suggest some natural but novel generalizations of the AdS/CFT

dictionary. If time permits I will briefly discuss an application of the non-relativistic AdS/CFT techniques to the nonequilibrium critical phenomena associated with aging.

May 11 at 10.30am in Geo/Phys Room 407