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A variational principle for domino tilings. (English) Zbl 1037.82016
Summary: We formulate and prove a variational principle (in the sense of thermodynamics) for random domino tilings, or equivalently for the dimer model on a square grid. This principle states that a typical tiling of an arbitrary finite region can be described by a function that maximizes an entropy integral. We associate an entropy to every sort of local behavior domino tilings can exhibit, and prove that almost all tilings lie within $$\varepsilon$$ (for an appropriate metric) of the unique entropy-maximizing solution. This gives a solution to the dimer problem with fully general boundary conditions, thereby resolving an issue first raised by Kasteleyn. Our methods also apply to dimer models on other grids and their associated tiling models, such as tilings of the plane by three orientations of unit lozenges.

##### MSC:
 82B41 Random walks, random surfaces, lattice animals, etc. in equilibrium statistical mechanics 52C20 Tilings in $$2$$ dimensions (aspects of discrete geometry) 60C05 Combinatorial probability 60D05 Geometric probability and stochastic geometry 82B20 Lattice systems (Ising, dimer, Potts, etc.) and systems on graphs arising in equilibrium statistical mechanics 82B23 Exactly solvable models; Bethe ansatz
##### Keywords:
Random tiling; dominos; variational principle; matchings; dimer model
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