Combinatorics of lattice paths with and without spikes

We derive a series of results on random walks on a d-dimensional hypercubic lattice (lattice paths). We introduce the notions of terse and simple paths corresponding to the path having no backtracking parts (spikes). These paths label equivalence classes which allow a rearrangement of the sum over paths. The basic combinatorial quantities of this construction are given. These formulas are useful when performing strong coupling (hopping parameter) expansions of lattice models. Some applications are described.Comment: Latex. 25 page

Cardy's Formula for Certain Models of the Bond-Triangular Type

We introduce and study a family of 2D percolation systems which are based on the bond percolation model of the triangular lattice. The system under study has local correlations, however, bonds separated by a few lattice spacings act independently of one another. By avoiding explicit use of microscopic paths, it is first established that the model possesses the typical attributes which are indicative of critical behavior in 2D percolation problems. Subsequently, the so called Cardy-Carleson functions are demonstrated to satisfy, in the continuum limit, Cardy's formula for crossing probabilities. This extends the results of S. Smirnov to a non-trivial class of critical 2D percolation systems.Comment: 49 pages, 7 figure

Asymptotics of correlations in the Ising model: a brief survey

We present a brief survey of rigorous results on the asymptotic behavior of correlations between two local functions as the distance between their support diverges, concentrating on the Ising model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$ with finite-range ferromagnetic interactions.Comment: Revised version: minor improvements, updated bibliography. Correction of a (minor but annoying) typo. To appear in Panoramas et Synth\`ese

Random percolation as a gauge theory

Three-dimensional bond or site percolation theory on a lattice can be interpreted as a gauge theory in which the Wilson loops are viewed as counters of topological linking with random clusters. Beyond the percolation threshold large Wilson loops decay with an area law and show the universal shape effects due to flux tube quantum fluctuations like in ordinary confining gauge theories. Wilson loop correlators define a non-trivial spectrum of physical states of increasing mass and spin, like the glueballs of ordinary gauge theory. The crumbling of the percolating cluster when the length of one periodic direction decreases below a critical threshold accounts for the finite temperature deconfinement, which belongs to 2-D percolation universality class.Comment: 20 pages, 14 figure

The Correlation Functions of the XXZ Heisenberg Chain for Zero or Infinite Anisotropy and Random Walks of Vicious Walkers

The XXZ Heisenberg chain is considered for two specific limits of the anisotropy parameter: \Dl\to 0 and \Dl\to -\infty. The corresponding wave functions are expressed by means of the symmetric Schur functions. Certain expectation values and thermal correlation functions of the ferromagnetic string operators are calculated over the base of N-particle Bethe states. The thermal correlator of the ferromagnetic string is expressed through the generating function of the lattice paths of random walks of vicious walkers. A relationship between the expectation values obtained and the generating functions of strict plane partitions in a box is discussed. Asymptotic estimate of the thermal correlator of the ferromagnetic string is obtained in the limit of zero temperature. It is shown that its amplitude is related to the number of plane partitions.Comment: 22 pages, 1 figure, LaTe