Eigenvalues of Random Matrices and Graphs


Random Matrix Theory is at the center of many exciting developments in pure and applied mathematics which touch upon combinatorics, number theory, growth and diffusion processes, quantum chaos as well as probability and statistics. A number of research groups at Arizona study random matrices as a part of their own programs. This includes the groups in Number Theory and Mathematical Physics. In our Analysis group the focus has been on studying the detailed asymptotic behavior of eigenvalue distributions associated to unitarily invariant probability measures on the space of N × N Hermitian matrices as N becomes large. This has led to interesting insights into combinatorial problems related to graphical enumeration on Riemann surfaces, limiting shapes of crystalline surfaces, and the statistical behavior of large random adjacency matrices. In many instances the asymptotic behaviors in these problems can, surprisingly, be described in terms of analytical constructions that arise in integrable systems theory.


Group Members

Nick Ercolani
Ken McLaughlin

Graduate Students

Bob Jenkins

Former Graduate Students

Former Postdoctorall Fellow