TY - JOUR TI - Simple models of complex systems DO - https://doi.org/doi:10.7282/T3Q52NFS PY - 2012 AB - When the complete description of a complex system of interest is out of reach, simple models which are more amenable to theoretical approach can give a qualitative understanding. In addition, the techniques and ideas developed in investigating simple model systems form a foundation for research on complex phenomena. In this thesis, composed of two parts, we study some representative models from statistical mechanics. In the first part we explore the ABC model, which describes three species of particles with asymmetric interactions. In the second part we consider the inverse Ising problem, using experimental data to infer an effective Ising model. KW - Physics and Astronomy KW - Statistical mechanics LA - eng ER -