On the Euler characteristics of random surfaces

In a Monte Carlo computer experiment, we simulate the Gibbs distribution of nonconnected two-dimensional surfaces isometrically embedded in three-dimensional Euclidean space with fixed boundary and the action given by the area. The simulation involves surfaces built out of plaquettes in a cubical lattice. The foam structure is analyzed in terms of correlations of the local fluctuations in the Euler characteristic and the area. The scaling behavior of the area and the Euler characteristic is discussed by varying the boundary. We show evidence of a phase transition point which is independent of the choice of the boundary. An existence proof is given of the thermodynamic limit for the models considered.Supported in part by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft and NSF grant No. Phy 81 09110A 01.