Richard G. Palmer, Professor Emeritus of Physics

Please note: Richard has left the "CNCS: Center for nonlinear and complex systems" group at Duke University; some info here might not be up to date.

Professor Richard G. Palmer is currently working on theories of statistical mechanics. He is interested in the application and development of statistical physics methods for many types of complex systems, including glasses and spin glasses, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and economic markets. The long-term goal of his work is to establish firm theoretical foundations for understanding the emergence of structure, complexity, and computational ability in driven systems of interacting adaptive components. He is also author of two books on the theory of neural networks and on the theory of extinction.

Office Location:	091 Physics Bldg, Durham, NC 27708
Office Phone:	(919) 660-2559
Email Address:
Web Page:	http://www.phy.duke.edu/~palmer/

Education:

Ph.D.	University of Cambridge (United Kingdom)	1973
Theoretical Physics	Cambridge Univ	1973

Specialties:

Nonlinear dynamics and complex systems
Theoretical condensed matter physics

Research Interests: Theoretical Condensed Matter Physics

Professor Richard G. Palmer is currently working on theories of statistical mechanics. He is interested in the application and development of statistical physics methods for many types of complex systems, including glasses and spin glasses, neural networks, genetic algorithms, and economic markets. The long-term goal of his work is to establish firm theoretical foundations for understanding the emergence of structure, complexity, and computational ability in driven systems of interacting adaptive components. He is also author of two books on the theory of neural networks and on the theory of extinction.

Keywords:

Animals • Attention • Behavior Therapy • Choice Behavior • Cognition • Decision Making • Humans • Models, Psychological • Orientation • Problem Solving • Reinforcement Schedule • Reversal Learning

Recent Publications

1. Palmer, R, Statistical mechanics approaches to complex optimization problems, in The Economy as an Evolving Complex System: The Proceedings of the Evolutionary Paths of the Global Economy Workshop, Held September, 1987 in Santa Fe, New Mexico (January, 2018), pp. 177-194, CRC Press, ISBN 9780201156850 [doi]  [abs]
2. Anderson, PW; Thouless, DJ; Palmer, RG, Solution of ‘solvable model of a spin glass’, in Career In Theoretical Physics, A (2nd Edition) (January, 2005), pp. 522-530, ISBN 9789812567154 [doi]  [abs]
3. M.E.J. Newman and R.G. Palmer, Modeling Extinction (Spring, 2003), Oxford University Press
4. Dragoi, V; Staddon, JER; Palmer, RG; Buhusi, CV, Interval timing as an emergent learning property., Psychological review, vol. 110 no. 1 (January, 2003), pp. 126-144 [doi]  [abs]
5. LeBaron, B; Arthur, WB; Palmer, R, Time series properties of an artificial stock market, Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control, vol. 23 no. 9-10 (January, 1999), pp. 1487-1516, Elsevier BV [doi]  [abs]