Mediaspace scheduled maintenance: Aug 25, 2026 07:00 - 12:00 AM. During this time, videos will be temporarily unavailable. Check status updates.

Lecture

Peierls argument

In course

MATH-486: Statistical mechanics and Gibbs measures

This course provides a rigorous introduction to the ideas, methods and results of classical statistical mechanics, with an emphasis on presenting the central tools for the probabilistic description of infinite lattice systems. ...

Description

This lecture covers the Peierls argument, focusing on the proof of Theorems related to low-temperature representation in the Ising Model. The instructor explains the concept of 'Paint free-form brush strokes' and demonstrates the application of the argument in various scenarios.

Official source

Related concepts (32)

Mathematical proof

A mathematical proof is a deductive argument for a mathematical statement, showing that the stated assumptions logically guarantee the conclusion. The argument may use other previously established statements, such as theorems; but every proof can, in principle, be constructed using only certain basic or original assumptions known as axioms, along with the accepted rules of inference. Proofs are examples of exhaustive deductive reasoning which establish logical certainty, to be distinguished from empirical arguments or non-exhaustive inductive reasoning which establish "reasonable expectation".

Proof theory

Proof theory is a major branch of mathematical logic and theoretical computer science within which proofs are treated as formal mathematical objects, facilitating their analysis by mathematical techniques. Proofs are typically presented as inductively-defined data structures such as lists, boxed lists, or trees, which are constructed according to the axioms and rules of inference of a given logical system. Consequently, proof theory is syntactic in nature, in contrast to model theory, which is semantic in nature.

Proof by contradiction

In logic, proof by contradiction is a form of proof that establishes the truth or the validity of a proposition, by showing that assuming the proposition to be false leads to a contradiction. Although it is quite freely used in mathematical proofs, not every school of mathematical thought accepts this kind of nonconstructive proof as universally valid. More broadly, proof by contradiction is any form of argument that establishes a statement by arriving at a contradiction, even when the initial assumption is not the negation of the statement to be proved.

Proof (truth)

A proof is sufficient evidence or a sufficient argument for the truth of a proposition. The concept applies in a variety of disciplines, with both the nature of the evidence or justification and the criteria for sufficiency being area-dependent. In the area of oral and written communication such as conversation, dialog, rhetoric, etc., a proof is a persuasive perlocutionary speech act, which demonstrates the truth of a proposition.

Constructive proof

In mathematics, a constructive proof is a method of proof that demonstrates the existence of a mathematical object by creating or providing a method for creating the object. This is in contrast to a non-constructive proof (also known as an existence proof or pure existence theorem), which proves the existence of a particular kind of object without providing an example. For avoiding confusion with the stronger concept that follows, such a constructive proof is sometimes called an effective proof.

Related lectures (48)

Proofs: Logic, Mathematics & Algorithms

Explores proof concepts, techniques, and applications in logic, mathematics, and algorithms.

Fundamental Groups

Explores fundamental groups, homotopy classes, and coverings in connected manifolds.

Harmonic Forms: Main Theorem

Explores harmonic forms on Riemann surfaces and the uniqueness of solutions to harmonic equations.

Proofs: Direct and Indirect Methods

Covers examples of direct and indirect proofs in mathematics.

Convergence in Law: Theorem and Proof