Colloquium
Thursday, April 15, 2010, 3:30--4:30 p.m. in ILB 370

Title: The Tutte polynomial, its applications and generalizations

Abstract:
The Tutte polynomial is one of the most famous in combinatorics. This is a 
polynomial in two variables defined for a graph. It generalizes the 
chromatic polynomial. Many other graph invariants are specializations of 
the Tutte polynomial. However it became famous because its applications in 
statistical physics. It is a partition function of the Potts model and its 
close relative, random-cluster model describing the theory of phase 
transitions and critical phenomena. Also the Tutte polynomial and its 
generalizations have very important applications in knot theory. 
    In my talk I will define the Tutte polynomial and discuss its various 
properties. Then I am going to describe its applications and 
generalizations mentioned above.