Sharpness of the Phase Transition for the Orthant Model

The orthant model is a directed percolation model on $\mathbb{Z}^d$, in which all clusters are infinite. We prove a sharp threshold result for this model: if $p$ is larger than the critical value above which the cluster of $0$ is contained in a cone, then the shift from $0$ that is required to contain the cluster of $0$ in that cone is exponentially small. As a consequence, above this critical threshold, a shape theorem holds for the cluster of $0$, as well as ballisiticity of the random walk on this cluster.Comment: 13 pages, 3 figure

Sharp phase transitions in percolation models

In percolation models, vertices or edges are removed from a graph according to a particular probabilistic rule. The connectivity properties of the resulting graph are then of interest. The initial graph is typically taken to be transitive and infinite, for example Zd with nearest neighbour edges. The classical example of such a model is Bernoulli bond percolation, in which an edge is removed from the graph with probability 1− p , and thus kept with probability p , independently for every edge. It is well known that this model exhibits a phase transition: for small values of p , there exist only finite clusters almost surely, while for large values of p , there exists an infinite cluster almost surely. In particular, there exists a critical point p_c ∈ (0,1) at which this transition occurs. Moreover, the phase transition is sharp: for p < p_c , the clusters are exponentially small. This behaviour is not specific to Bernoulli percolation. Rather, it is a common theme in percolation models. Nevertheless, the original proofs of the sharpness of the phase transition were very specific for Bernoulli percolation, and they are not easily applied to models with dependencies. Recently however, a celebrated new proof was given by Duminil-Copin, Raoufi and Tassion, which is far more robust. It makes use of Boolean function theory, in particular the OSSS inequality for decision trees. In this thesis, we will explore this new technique, and apply it to three models: the contact process, the orthant model, and the corrupted compass model. The application of the OSSS method to these models is far from straightforward, and some model-specific hurdles have to be overcome. As an instructive model with dependencies, we will start with the corrupted compass model, since the dependencies are relatively easily controlled in this model. This is in contrast to the contact process, where the dependencies of the model are rather elusive. We give a new proof of the sharpness of the phase transition at λ_c , the phase transition for the survival of the infection. We then investigate the percolation phase transition for the time- t -measure, and show that this transition is sharp as well. Furthermore, we investigate how this might be extended to the upper invariant measure for the contact process. Finally, we will examine the orthant model, which is quite different in nature, since it is a directed model in which there exists an infinite cluster across the entire parameter range. Still, we can speak of a phase transition in this model, and we will prove that it is sharp. The idiosyncratic nature of this model is reflected in the proof

Sharpness for Inhomogeneous Percolation on Quasi-Transitive Graphs

In this note we study the phase transition for percolation on quasi-transitive graphs with quasi-transitively inhomogeneous edge-retention probabilities. A quasi-transitive graph is an infinite graph with finitely many different "types" of edges and vertices. We prove that the transition is sharp almost everywhere, i.e., that in the subcritical regime the expected cluster size is finite, and that in the subcritical regime the probability of the one-arm event decays exponentially. Our proof extends the proof of sharpness of the phase transition for homogeneous percolation on vertex-transitive graphs by Duminil-Copin and Tassion [Comm. Math. Phys., 2016], and the result generalizes previous results of Antunovi\'c and Veseli\'c [J. Stat. Phys., 2008] and Menshikov [Dokl. Akad. Nauk 1986].Comment: 9 page

Sharpness for inhomogeneous percolation on quasi-transitive graphs

In this note we study the phase transition for percolation on quasi-transitive graphs with quasi-transitive inhomogeneous edge-retention probabilities. A quasi-transitive graph is an infinite graph with finitely many different “types” of edges and vertices. We prove that the transition is sharp almost everywhere, i.e., that in the subcritical regime the expected cluster size is finite, and that in the subcritical regime the probability of the one-arm event decays exponentially. Our proof extends the proof of sharpness of the phase transition for homogeneous percolation on vertex-transitive graphs by Duminil-Copin and Tassion (2016) and the result generalizes previous results of Antunović and Veselić (2008) and Menshikov (1986)

Sharpness for inhomogeneous percolation on quasi-transitive graphs

\u3cp\u3eIn this note we study the phase transition for percolation on quasi-transitive graphs with quasi-transitive inhomogeneous edge-retention probabilities. A quasi-transitive graph is an infinite graph with finitely many different “types” of edges and vertices. We prove that the transition is sharp almost everywhere, i.e., that in the subcritical regime the expected cluster size is finite, and that in the subcritical regime the probability of the one-arm event decays exponentially. Our proof extends the proof of sharpness of the phase transition for homogeneous percolation on vertex-transitive graphs by Duminil-Copin and Tassion (2016) and the result generalizes previous results of Antunović and Veselić (2008) and Menshikov (1986).\u3c/p\u3

Control of the propagation of dendritic low-threshold Ca2+ spikes in Purkinje cells from rat cerebellar slice cultures

To investigate the ionic mechanisms controlling the dendrosomatic propagation of low-threshold Ca2+ spikes (LTS) in Purkinje cells (PCs), somatically evoked discharges of action potentials (APs) were recorded under current-clamp conditions. The whole-cell configuration of the patch-clamp method was used in PCs from rat cerebellar slice cultures. Full blockade of the P/Q-type Ca2+ current revealed slow but transient depolarizations associated with bursts of fast Na+ APs. These can occur as a single isolated event at the onset of current injection, or repetitively (i.e. a slow complex burst). The initial transient depolarization was identified as an LTS Blockade of P/Q-type Ca2+ channels increased the likelihood of recording Ca2+ spikes at the soma by promoting dendrosomatic propagation. Slow rhythmic depolarizations shared several properties with the LTS (kinetics, activation/inactivation, calcium dependency and dendritic origin), suggesting that they correspond to repetitively activated dendritic LTS, which reach the soma when P/Q channels are blocked. Somatic LTS and slow complex burst activity were also induced by K+ channel blockers such as TEA (2.5 × 10−4m) charybdotoxin (CTX, 10−5m), rIberiotoxin (10−7m), and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 10−3m), but not by apamin (10−4m). In the presence of 4-AP, slow complex burst activity occurred even at hyperpolarized potentials (−80 mV). In conclusion, we suggest that the propagation of dendritic LTS is controlled directly by 4-AP-sensitive K+ channels, and indirectly modulated by activation of calcium-activated K+ (BK) channels via P/Q-mediated Ca2+ entry. The slow complex burst resembles strikingly the complex spike elicited by climbing fibre stimulation, and we therefore propose, as a hypothesis, that dendrosomatic propagation of the LTS could underlie the complex spike