PROFESSOR MUSTANSIR BARMA

It is common wisdom that very large random fluctuations would succeed in destroying an ordered state. While this statement is almost always true, there are interesting exceptions; these exceptionally interesting systems are the focus of this talk. Giant fluctuations coexisting with long range order are seen in models of passive scalars, active biological systems and granular media, and experiments on vibrated rods. These will be discussed, along with the unusual signatures that characterize fluctuation-dominated order.