Probability and Mathematical Physics Seminar

---

Recent results on polaron path measures

Speaker: Tobias Schmidt, Technische Universität Darmstadt

Location: Warren Weaver Hall 1302

Date: Friday, February 13, 2026, 11:10 a.m.

Synopsis:

Polaron models describe a quantum particle interacting with a bosonic scalar field. They give rise to a Gibbsian reweighting of Brownian motion via Feynman-Kac formulas, where the Gibbs action induces a self-interaction of the path. One of the most famous examples is the Fröhlich polaron. In this talk, we study the long-time diffusive behavior of the path endpoint under such measures. Using correlation inequalities and Gaussian domination techniques, we discuss how the interaction alters the mean-square displacement, both in translation-invariant models and in more general settings. Joint work with Volker Betz (Darmstadt) and Mark Sellke (Harvard).