9700430 den Nijs This grant is for theoretical work in statistical physics by a senior PI. This follows a creativity extension of the previous award some five years ago. There are three specific areas of research: In the first project the PI plans to investigate the applications of general concepts such as conformal invariance and methods like Coulomb gas mappings to the scaling properties of dynamical processes in 1+1 dimensions. There are plans to consider the earlier proposed "z theorem" and its validity beyond the KPZ type growth to directed percolation. In the second project, the focus is on whether the strong coupling conformal field theories with central charge c > 1 exist. The third project is an extensive study of crystal surface phase transitions. Here the PI plans to extend his earlier work on preroughening , disordered flat phases and the competition between surface roughening and reconstruction. %%% The senior PI receiving this grant is considered an expert in the application of sophisticated mathematical techniques to statistical mechanics. His recent contributions have been in the general area of phase transitions at a crystalline surface and also on a detailed understanding of complex growth processes at a surface. His previous grant had received a creativity extension two years ago which permitted him to explore more risky and speculative subjects. The present grant continues the work begun during the creativity extension. ***
