Modelling gap-size distribution of parked cars using random-matrix theory

We apply the random-matrix theory to the car-parking problem. For this purpose, we adopt a Coulomb gas model that associates the coordinates of the gas particles with the eigenvalues of a random matrix. The nature of interaction between the particles is consistent with the tendency of the drivers to park their cars near to each other and in the same time keep a distance sufficient for manoeuvring. We show that the recently measured gap-size distribution of parked cars in a number of roads in central London is well represented by the spacing distribution of a Gaussian unitary ensemble. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.