Richard G. Palmer | Scholars@Duke

Richard G. Palmer
Professor Emeritus of 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.

Current Appointments & Affiliations

Professor Emeritus of Physics, Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2015

Contact Information

091 Physics Bldg, Durham, NC 27708
Box 90305, Durham, NC 27708-0305
palmer@phy.duke.edu (919) 660-2559
http://www.phy.duke.edu/~palmer/

Background
Education, Training, & Certifications
- Ph.D., University of Cambridge (United Kingdom) 1973
Duke Appointment History
- Professor with Tenure, Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1991 - 2015
- Professor of Psychology & Neuroscience, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2008 - 2015
- Director of Graduate Studies in the Department of Physics, Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 2010 - 2011
- Professor of Computer Science, Computer Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1999 - 2003
- Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, Duke Institute for Brain Sciences, University Institutes and Centers 2001 - 2002
- Professor of Psychology: Experimental, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1999 - 2001
- Professor, Computer Science, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1993 - 1998
- Professor, Psychology and Neuroscience, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1992 - 1995
- Associate Professor with Tenure, Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1983 - 1991
- Assistant Professor, Physics, Trinity College of Arts & Sciences 1977 - 1983
Recognition
Awards & Honors
- Fellowship. John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. 1986
Research
Selected Grants
- Models for Learning, Memory and Interference awarded by National Institutes of Health 1990 - 2002
- Models for Learning, Memory and Inference awarded by National Institutes of Health 1990 - 1995
- Models for Learning, Memory, & Inference awarded by National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) 1990 - 1995
- Neural Network Models of Temporal Learning awarded by National Institutes of Health 1992 - 1993
Publications & Artistic Works
Selected Publications
- Books
  - Hertz, J., A. Krogh, and R. G. Palmer. Introduction to the theory of neural computation, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429499661.
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- Academic Articles
  - Dragoi, Valentin, J. E. R. Staddon, Richard G. Palmer, and Catalin V. Buhusi. “Interval timing as an emergent learning property.” Psychological Review 110, no. 1 (January 2003): 126–44. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.110.1.126.
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  - LeBaron, B., W. B. Arthur, and R. Palmer. “Time series properties of an artificial stock market.” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control 23, no. 9–10 (January 1, 1999): 1487–1516. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0165-1889(98)00081-5.
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  - Palmer, R. G., W. B. Arthur, J. H. Holland, and B. LeBaron. “An Artificial Stock Market.” Artificial Life and Robotics 3 (1999).
  - Palmer, R. G., and J. Adler. “Ground states for large samples of two-dimensional Ising spin glasses.” International Journal of Modern Physics C 10, no. 4 (January 1, 1999): 667–75. https://doi.org/10.1142/S0129183199000504.
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  - Newman, MEJ, and Palmer, RG. "Error estimation in the histogram Monte Carlo method." Journal of Statistical Physics 97, no. 5-6 (1999): 1011-1026.
  - Staddon, J. E., D. G. Davis, A. Machado, and R. G. Palmer. “Cumulative effects model: a response to Williams (1994).” Psychological Review 101, no. 4 (October 1994): 708–10. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.101.4.708.
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  - Palmer, R. G., W. Brian Arthur, J. H. Holland, B. LeBaron, and P. Tayler. “Artificial economic life: a simple model of a stockmarket.” Physica D: Nonlinear Phenomena 75, no. 1–3 (August 1, 1994): 264–74. https://doi.org/10.1016/0167-2789(94)90287-9.
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  - Rust, J., J. H. Miller, and R. Palmer. “Characterizing effective trading strategies. Insights from a computerized double auction tournament.” Journal of Economic Dynamics and Control 18, no. 1 (January 1, 1994): 61–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/0165-1889(94)90069-8.
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  - Davis, D. G., J. E. Staddon, A. Machado, and R. G. Palmer. “The process of recurrent choice.” Psychological Review 100, no. 2 (April 1993): 320–41. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295x.100.2.320.
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  - Ajay, R. L., and R. G. Palmer. “Simulation of a toy model with constrained dynamics.” Journal of Physics A: General Physics 23, no. 11 (December 1, 1990): 2139–45. https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/23/11/034.
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  - Stein, D. L., C. R. Doering, R. G. Plamer, J. L. Van Hemmen, and R. M. McLaughlin. “Escape over a fluctuating barrier: The white noise limit.” Journal of Physics A: General Physics 23, no. 5 (December 1, 1990). https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/23/5/004.
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  - Hansen, G. E., and R. G. Palmer. “Compact nuclear-power source critical experiments and analysis.” Nuclear Science and Engineering 103, no. 3 (November 1989): 237–46.
  - Stein, D. L., R. G. Palmer, J. L. Van Hemmen, and C. R. Doering. “Mean exit times over fluctuating barriers.” Physics Letters A 136, no. 7–8 (April 17, 1989): 353–57. https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9601(89)90414-3.
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  - Stein, D. L., and R. G. Palmer. “Nature of the glass transition.” Physical Review. B, Condensed Matter 38, no. 16 (December 1988): 12035–38. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.38.12035.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “The role of constraints in glassy relaxation.” Nuclear Physics B (Proceedings Supplements) 5, no. 1 (January 1, 1988): 81. https://doi.org/10.1016/0920-5632(88)90017-5.
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  - Adler, J., R. G. Palmer, and H. Meyer. “Transmission of order in some unusual dilute systems.” Physical Review Letters 58, no. 9 (January 1, 1987): 882–85. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.58.882.
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  - PALMER, R. G. “Parallels and Contrasts between Glass and Spin Glass.” Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences 484, no. 1 (January 1, 1986): 109–20. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1749-6632.1986.tb49566.x.
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  - Palmer, R. G., D. L. Stein, E. Abrahams, and P. W. Anderson. “Erratum: Models of hierarchically constrained dynamics for glassy relaxation (Physical Review Letters (1985) 54,17 (1965)).” Physical Review Letters 54, no. 17 (December 1, 1985): 1965. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.54.1965.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and F. T. Bantilan. “High-temperature expansion for a diluted spin-glass model.” Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics 18, no. 1 (December 1, 1985): 171–80. https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3719/18/1/021.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and H. L. Frisch. “Low-and high-dimension limits of a phase separation model.” Journal of Statistical Physics 38, no. 5–6 (March 1, 1985): 867–72. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01010420.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “Correction.” Physical Review Letters 54, no. 17 (1985): 1965–1965.
  - Palmer, R. G., D. L. Stein, E. Abrahams, and P. W. Anderson. “Palmer et al. respond.” Physical Review Letters 54, no. 4 (January 1, 1985): 365. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.54.365.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and H. L. Frisch. “Low-dimension and high-dimension limits of a phase-separation model.” Journal of Statistical Physics 38, no. 5–6 (1985): 867–72.
  - Randeria, M., J. P. Sethna, and R. G. Palmer. “Low-frequency relaxation in ising spin-glasses.” Physical Review Letters 54, no. 12 (January 1, 1985): 1321–24. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.54.1321.
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  - Palmer, R. G., D. L. Stein, E. Abrahams, and P. W. Anderson. “Models of hierarchically constrained dynamics for glassy relaxation.” Physical Review Letters 53, no. 10 (January 1, 1984): 958–61. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.53.958.
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  - Hopfield, J. J., D. I. Feinstein, and R. G. Palmer. “'Unlearning' has a stabilizing effect in collective memories.” Nature 304, no. 5922 (July 1983): 158–59. https://doi.org/10.1038/304158a0.
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  - PALMER, R. G. “BROKEN ERGODICITY IN SPIN-GLASSES.” Lecture Notes in Physics 192 (January 1, 1983): 234–51.
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  - Kolan, A. J., and R. G. Palmer. “Ground state properties of a spin glass model.” Journal of Applied Physics 53, no. 3 (December 1, 1982): 2198–2200. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.330972.
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  - Van Hemmen, J. L., and R. G. Palmer. “The thermodynamic limit and the replica method for short-range random systems.” Journal of Physics A: Mathematical and General 15, no. 12 (December 1, 1982): 3881–90. https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/15/12/037.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “Broken ergodicity.” Advances in Physics 31, no. 6 (January 1, 1982): 669–735. https://doi.org/10.1080/00018738200101438.
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  - Bantilan, F. T., and R. G. Palmer. “Magnetic properties of a model spin glass and the failure of linear response theory.” Journal of Physics F: Metal Physics 11, no. 1 (December 1, 1981): 261–66. https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4608/11/1/026.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “Shielding optimization studies for a space reactor system.” Transactions of the American Nuclear Society 39 (1981): 764–65.
  - Palmer, R. G. “Application of coupled reactor theory to explain reactivity slumping effects in heterogeneous lmfbrs.” Transactions of the American Nuclear Society 38, no. JUN (1981): 415–16.
  - Kolan, A. J., and R. G. Palmer. “Distribution of frustrated plaquettes in the random bond square lattice.” Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics 13, no. 23 (December 1, 1980). https://doi.org/10.1088/0022-3719/13/23/002.
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  - BANTILAN, F. T., and R. G. PALMER. “ZERO-TEMPERATURE PROPERTIES OF INFINITE-RANGE ISING SPIN-GLASS MODELS.” Bulletin of the American Physical Society 25, no. 3 (January 1, 1980): 206–206.
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  - KOLAN, A. J., and R. G. PALMER. “DISTRIBUTION OF FRUSTRATED PLAQUETTES FOR THE RANDOM 2D ISING-MODEL.” Bulletin of the American Physical Society 25, no. 3 (January 1, 1980): 206–206.
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  - PALMER, R. G. “INFORMATION, ORDER, AND DEGENERACY IN RANDOM-SYSTEMS.” Bulletin of the American Physical Society 25, no. 3 (January 1, 1980): 349–349.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “Charged hard sphere results for the one-component plasma.” The Journal of Chemical Physics 73, no. 4 (January 1, 1980): 2009–10. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.440295.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and C. M. Pond. “Internal field distributions in model spin glasses.” Journal of Physics F: Metal Physics 9, no. 7 (December 1, 1979): 1451–59. https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4608/9/7/024.
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  - Van Hemmen, J. L., and R. G. Palmer. “The replica method and solvable spin glass model.” Journal of Physics A: General Physics 12, no. 4 (December 1, 1979): 563–80. https://doi.org/10.1088/0305-4470/12/4/016.
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  - Gould, H., R. G. Palmer, and G. A. Estévez. “Asymptotic form of the mean spherical approximation for the internal energy of the classical one-component plasma.” Journal of Statistical Physics 21, no. 1 (July 1, 1979): 55–64. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01011481.
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  - Anderson, P. W., D. J. Thouless, and R. G. Palmer. “Comment on "The third law of thermodynamics and the theory of spin glasses" by E.P. Wohlfarth.” Physics Letters A 62, no. 6 (September 19, 1977): 456. https://doi.org/10.1016/0375-9601(77)90693-4.
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  - Thouless, D. J., P. W. Anderson, and R. G. Palmer. “Solution of ‘Solvable model of a spin glass’.” Philosophical Magazine 35, no. 3 (January 1, 1977): 593–601. https://doi.org/10.1080/14786437708235992.
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  - Palmer, R. G. “Neutron star cores.” Astrophysics and Space Science 34, no. 1 (April 1, 1975): 209–22. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00646761.
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  - Anderson, P. W., N. Itoh, M. A. Alpar, E. Tosatti, and R. G. Palmer. “Positively charged isospin wave softening and proton lattice in neutron stars.” Lettere Al Nuovo Cimento 12, no. 6 (February 1, 1975): 165–70. https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02785970.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and P. W. Anderson. “Corresponding-states approach to nuclear and neutron-star matter.” Physical Review D 9, no. 12 (January 1, 1974): 3281–91. https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevD.9.3281.
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  - Palmer, R. G., and J. D. Weeks. “Exact solution of the mean spherical model for charged hard spheres in a uniform neutralizing background.” The Journal of Chemical Physics, January 1, 1973, 4171–74. https://doi.org/10.1063/1.1678973.
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- Book Sections
  - 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, 177–94, 2018. https://doi.org/10.1201/9780429492846.
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Education, Training, & Certifications

Duke Appointment History

Awards & Honors

Selected Grants

Selected Publications

Books

Academic Articles

Book Sections