Coulomb and Riesz gases: The known and the unknown

Abstract

We review what is known, unknown, and expected about the mathematical properties of Coulomb and Riesz gases. Those describe infinite configurations of points in [Formula: see text] interacting with the Riesz potential ±| x|− s(respectively, −log | x| for s = 0). Our presentation follows the standard point of view of statistical mechanics, but we also mention how these systems arise in other important situations (e.g., in random matrix theory). The main question addressed in this Review is how to properly define the associated infinite point process and characterize it using some (renormalized) equilibrium equation. This is largely open in the long range case s < d. For the convenience of the reader, we give the detail of what is known in the short range case s > d. Finally, we discuss phase transitions and mention what is expected on physical grounds.