Metastability of an interacting system of particles in continuum

One of the obstructions to truly microscopic statistical physics theory of elasticity lies in the fact that one should consider a metastable system of particles. While metastability is reasonably well understood for lattice systems, particles in continuum are more difficult to analyse. Even a rigorous proof of just the existence of a phase transition has been achieved only for few simple models. We will discuss the need for considering a metastable system as well as formulate/explain the results concerning metastability for the particular case of the Widom-Rowlinson model.

Based on a joint work with F. den Hollander, S. Jansen, and E. Pulvirenti.