On the proof of the Parisi formula by Guerra and Talagrand
The Parisi formula is an expression for the limiting free energy of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick spin glass model, which had first been derived by Parisi using a non-rigorous replica method together with an hierarchical ansatz for the solution of the variational problem. It had become quickly clear that behind the solution, if correct, lies an interesting mathematical structure. The formula has recently been proved by Michel Talagrand based partly on earlier ideas and results by Francesco Guerra....