Self-avoiding and planar random surfaces on the lattice

We study models of self-avoiding (SARS) and of planar (PRS) random surfaces on a (hyper-) cubic lattice. If N_γ(A) is the number of such surfaces with given boundary γ and area A, then N_γ(A) = exp(β₀A + o(A)), where β₀ is independent of γ. We prove that, for β > β₀, the string tension is finite for the SARS model and strictly positive for the PRS model and that in both models the correlation length (inverse mass) is positive and finite. We discuss the possibility of the existence of a critical point and of a roughening transition. Estimates on intersection probabilities for random surfaces and connections with lattice gauge theories are sketched.