Physics (Internal)
Research by Sidney Redner
Professor Redner’s research field is non-equilibrium statistical physics. His current interests include the structure of networks, chemical reaction kinetics, and the dynamics of social systems. Professor’s Redner’s recent studies of networks has led to new insights about the link structures of the world wide web and the distribution of citations in scientific publications. He is also applying fundamental approaches from non-equilibrium spin systems to yield insights into opinion formation in populations that are driven by the competing influences of compromise and incompatibility. The ultimate goal is to understand the conditions for consensus or lack thereof in heterogeneous populations that evolve by socially rational rules. Professor Redner also has interests in complex systems, including weather statistics, granular materials, and general stochastic processes.