Stochastic approximations to curve-shortening flows via particle systems

Curvature-driven flows have been extensively considered from a deterministic point of view. Besides their mathematical interest, they have been shown to be useful for a number of applications including crystal growth, flame propagation, and computer vision. In this paper, we describe a random particle system, evolving on the discretized unit circle, whose profile converges toward the Gauss-Minkowsky transformation of solutions of curve-shortening flows initiated by convex curves. Our approach may be considered as a type of stochastic crystalline algorithm. Our proofs are based on certain techniques from the theory of hydrodynamical limits.