Cardy's Formula for Certain Models of the Bond-Triangular Type

We introduce and study a family of 2D percolation systems which are based on the bond percolation model of the triangular lattice. The system under study has local correlations, however, bonds separated by a few lattice spacings act independently of one another. By avoiding explicit use of microscopic paths, it is first established that the model possesses the typical attributes which are indicative of critical behavior in 2D percolation problems. Subsequently, the so called Cardy-Carleson functions are demonstrated to satisfy, in the continuum limit, Cardy's formula for crossing probabilities. This extends the results of S. Smirnov to a non-trivial class of critical 2D percolation systems.Comment: 49 pages, 7 figure

Ensemble dependence in the Random transverse-field Ising chain

In a disordered system one can either consider a microcanonical ensemble, where there is a precise constraint on the random variables, or a canonical ensemble where the variables are chosen according to a distribution without constraints. We address the question as to whether critical exponents in these two cases can differ through a detailed study of the random transverse-field Ising chain. We find that the exponents are the same in both ensembles, though some critical amplitudes vanish in the microcanonical ensemble for correlations which span the whole system and are particularly sensitive to the constraint. This can \textit{appear} as a different exponent. We expect that this apparent dependence of exponents on ensemble is related to the integrability of the model, and would not occur in non-integrable models.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figure

Rejoinder to the Response arXiv:0812.2330 to 'Comment on a recent conjectured solution of the three-dimensional Ising model'

We comment on Z. D. Zhang's Response [arXiv:0812.2330] to our recent Comment [arXiv:0811.3876] addressing the conjectured solution of the three-dimensional Ising model reported in [arXiv:0705.1045].Comment: 2 page

Disorder Averaging and Finite Size Scaling

We propose a new picture of the renormalization group (RG) approach in the presence of disorder, which considers the RG trajectories of each random sample (realization) separately instead of the usual renormalization of the averaged free energy. The main consequence of the theory is that the average over randomness has to be taken after finding the critical point of each realization. To demonstrate these concepts, we study the finite-size scaling properties of the two-dimensional random-bond Ising model. We find that most of the previously observed finite-size corrections are due to the sample-to-sample fluctuation of the critical temperature and scaling is more adequate in terms of the new scaling variables.Comment: 4 pages, 6 figures include

Surface tension in the dilute Ising model. The Wulff construction

We study the surface tension and the phenomenon of phase coexistence for the Ising model on \mathbbm{Z}^d ($d \geqslant 2$) with ferromagnetic but random couplings. We prove the convergence in probability (with respect to random couplings) of surface tension and analyze its large deviations : upper deviations occur at volume order while lower deviations occur at surface order. We study the asymptotics of surface tension at low temperatures and relate the quenched value $\tau^q$ of surface tension to maximal flows (first passage times if $d = 2$). For a broad class of distributions of the couplings we show that the inequality $\tau^a \leqslant \tau^q$ -- where $\tau^a$ is the surface tension under the averaged Gibbs measure -- is strict at low temperatures. We also describe the phenomenon of phase coexistence in the dilute Ising model and discuss some of the consequences of the media randomness. All of our results hold as well for the dilute Potts and random cluster models

Random Cluster Models on the Triangular Lattice

We study percolation and the random cluster model on the triangular lattice with 3-body interactions. Starting with percolation, we generalize the star--triangle transformation: We introduce a new parameter (the 3-body term) and identify configurations on the triangles solely by their connectivity. In this new setup, necessary and sufficient conditions are found for positive correlations and this is used to establish regions of percolation and non-percolation. Next we apply this set of ideas to the $q>1$ random cluster model: We derive duality relations for the suitable random cluster measures, prove necessary and sufficient conditions for them to have positive correlations, and finally prove some rigorous theorems concerning phase transitions.Comment: 24 pages, 1 figur

Graphical representations and cluster algorithms for critical points with fields

A two-replica graphical representation and associated cluster algorithm is described that is applicable to ferromagnetic Ising systems with arbitrary fields. Critical points are associated with the percolation threshold of the graphical representation. Results from numerical simulations of the Ising model in a staggered field are presented. The dynamic exponent for the algorithm is measured to be less than 0.5.Comment: Revtex, 12 pages with 2 figure

The Computational Complexity of Generating Random Fractals

In this paper we examine a number of models that generate random fractals. The models are studied using the tools of computational complexity theory from the perspective of parallel computation. Diffusion limited aggregation and several widely used algorithms for equilibrating the Ising model are shown to be highly sequential; it is unlikely they can be simulated efficiently in parallel. This is in contrast to Mandelbrot percolation that can be simulated in constant parallel time. Our research helps shed light on the intrinsic complexity of these models relative to each other and to different growth processes that have been recently studied using complexity theory. In addition, the results may serve as a guide to simulation physics.Comment: 28 pages, LATEX, 8 Postscript figures available from [email protected]