Physics of Distributed Information Systems (PhysDIS)

Content and scope

Statistical physics has recently applied been to understanding, analysis and design of large distributed information systems. These range from decoding algorithms (Belief Propagation) and phase transitions and typical-case hardness in combinatorial optimization problems to content distribution and dynamical phenomena on the Internet, to the modelling of distributed agent systems - Peer-to-Peer networks, auction mechanisms and more. The PhysDIS program aims to survey current trends in this exciting area, and foster new research into untapped directions.

Format and practicalities

The program will be one month in duration, and will take place at the premises of NORDITA in Stockholm, Sweden. The goal of the program is to produce scientific results and to set a future agenda for the field. The program will hence be light on formal meetings and talks. Participants are encouraged to describe their contribution upon registration and are expected to give talks about their work at NORDITA, and at other venues in the Stockholm area arranged by the program organizers. Details on accomodation and financial issues will be posted later, or communicated directly to interested parties.

Confirmed participants

John Ardelius, SICS, Sweden
Mikko Alava, TKK, Finland (P.I.)
Erik Aurell, KTH, Sweden (P.I.)
Axel Brandenburg, NORDITA, Sweden
Mads Dam, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
György Dan, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Luca Dell'Asta, ICTP, Italy
Daniele Di Martino, SISSA, Italy
Meesoon Ha, KAIST, Korea
John Hertz, NORDITA, Sweden
Petter Holme, KTH Royal Institute of Technology, Sweden
Chin-Kun Hu, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
Supriya Krishnamurthy, Swedish Institute of Computer Science, Sweden
Joachim Krug, Cologne, Germany
Florent Krzakala, ESPCI, France
Sang-hoon Lee, KAIST, Korea
Satya Majumdar, Orsay, France
Matteo Marsili, Abdus Salam ICTP, Trieste, Italy
Paolo Muratore-Ginanneschi, Helsinki, Finland
Mats Nordahl, Stockholm
Matteo Palassini, Barcelona, Spain
Luca Peliti, Naples, Italy
Heiko Rieger, Saarbrucken, Germany
Jesper Tegner, Karolinska Institute, Sweden
Olav Tirkkonen, Helsinki, Finland
Joanna Tyrcha, Stockholm University, Sweden
Massimo Vergassola, Institut Pasteur, France
Bing-Hong Wang, Hefei, China
Haijun Zhou, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China

Previous meetings in this series

This NORDITA program follows upon a 2007 Statphys 23 satellite meeting, for which the program and list of attendees is available, and further a planned 2008 Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics China (KITPC, Beijing, China) event CDInfos0803, for which the registration closes July 15, 2007.

Workshop

This program includes a three-day workshop, May 15-17, to which we expect to attract a larger set of participants, and for which registration is separate, see PhysDIS May 15-17 workshop.

Financial support

We are going to give a number of grants for scientists interested in participating in the program (2 week quanta), and the workshop. The former cover the accommodation and provide assistance for local expenses or travel. Half of the funds have been initially reserved, due to the nature of Nordita, for participants coming from the Nordic countries. We also offer for Nordic scientists smaller grants for participation in the program workshop. To be egligible for support please indicate the intention with your registration, and provide a short explanation of your interest to the program. The deadline for this is January 25th for the program.

Blog

The organizers maintain, to some extent, a program blog.