Stability of 3D Cubic Fixed Point in Two-Coupling-Constant \phi^4-Theory

For an anisotropic euclidean $\phi^4$-theory with two interactions [u (\sum_{i=1^M {\phi}_i^2)^2+v \sum_{i=1}^M \phi_i^4] the $\beta$-functions are calculated from five-loop perturbation expansions in $d=4-\varepsilon$ dimensions, using the knowledge of the large-order behavior and Borel transformations. For $\varepsilon=1$, an infrared stable cubic fixed point for $M \geq 3$ is found, implying that the critical exponents in the magnetic phase transition of real crystals are of the cubic universality class. There were previous indications of the stability based either on lower-loop expansions or on less reliable Pad\'{e approximations, but only the evidence presented in this work seems to be sufficently convincing to draw this conclusion.Comment: Author Information under http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.html . Paper also at http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/kleiner_re250/preprint.htm

New approach to Borel summation of divergent series and critical exponent estimates for an N-vector cubic model in three dimensions from five-loop \epsilon expansions

A new approach to summation of divergent field-theoretical series is suggested. It is based on the Borel transformation combined with a conformal mapping and does not imply the exact asymptotic parameters to be known. The method is tested on functions expanded in their asymptotic power series. It is applied to estimating the critical exponent values for an N-vector field model, describing magnetic and structural phase transitions in cubic and tetragonal crystals, from five-loop \epsilon expansions.Comment: 9 pages, LaTeX, 3 PostScript figure

Large-Order Behavior of Two-coupling Constant ϕ4\phi^4-Theory with Cubic Anisotropy

For the anisotropic [u (\sum_{i=1^N {\phi}_i^2)^2+v \sum_{i=1^N \phi_i^4]-theory with {$N=2,3$} we calculate the imaginary parts of the renormalization-group functions in the form of a series expansion in $v$, i.e., around the isotropic case. Dimensional regularization is used to evaluate the fluctuation determinants for the isotropic instanton near the space dimension 4. The vertex functions in the presence of instantons are renormalized with the help of a nonperturbative procedure introduced for the simple g{\phi^4-theory by McKane et al.Comment: LaTeX file with eps files in src. See also http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.htm

Spin Frustration and Orbital Order in Vanadium Spinels

We present the results of our theoretical study on the effects of geometrical frustration and the interplay between spin and orbital degrees of freedom in vanadium spinel oxides $A$V$_2$O$_4$ ($A$ = Zn, Mg or Cd). Introducing an effective spin-orbital-lattice coupled model in the strong correlation limit and performing Monte Carlo simulation for the model, we propose a reduced spin Hamiltonian in the orbital ordered phase to capture the stabilization mechanism of the antiferromagnetic order. Orbital order drastically reduces spin frustration by introducing spatial anisotropy in the spin exchange interactions, and the reduced spin model can be regarded as weakly-coupled one-dimensional antiferromagnetic chains. The critical exponent estimated by finite-size scaling analysis shows that the magnetic transition belongs to the three-dimensional Heisenberg universality class. Frustration remaining in the mean-field level is reduced by thermal fluctuations to stabilize a collinear ordering.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, proceedings submitted to SPQS200

Pseudo-epsilon expansion and the two-dimensional Ising model

Starting from the five-loop renormalization-group expansions for the two-dimensional Euclidean scalar \phi^4 field theory (field-theoretical version of two-dimensional Ising model), pseudo-\epsilon expansions for the Wilson fixed point coordinate g*, critical exponents, and the sextic effective coupling constant g_6 are obtained. Pseudo-\epsilon expansions for g*, inverse susceptibility exponent \gamma, and g_6 are found to possess a remarkable property - higher-order terms in these expansions turn out to be so small that accurate enough numerical estimates can be obtained using simple Pade approximants, i. e. without addressing resummation procedures based upon the Borel transformation.Comment: 4 pages, 4 tables, few misprints avoide

Highly Accurate Critical Exponents from Self-Similar Variational Perturbation Theory

We extend field theoretic variational perturbation theory by self-similar approximation theory, which greatly accelerates convergence. This is illustrated by re-calculating the critical exponents of O(N)-symmetric \vp^4 theory. From only three-loop perturbation expansions in $4- \epsilon$ dimensions we obtain {\em analytic results for the exponents, with practically the same accuracy as those derived recently from ordinary field-theoretic variational perturbational theory to seventh order. In particular, the theory explains the best-measured exponent \al\approx-0.0127 of the specific heat peak in superfluid helium, found in a satellite experiment with a temperature resolution of nanoKelvin. In addition, our analytic expressions reproduce also the exactly known large-N behaviour of the exponents $\nu$ and $\gamma= \nu (2- \eta)$ with high precision.Comment: Author Information under http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/institution.html . Latest update of paper (including all PS fonts) at http://www.physik.fu-berlin.de/~kleinert/kleiner_re349/preprint.htm

Critical exponents for 3D O(n)-symmetric model with n > 3

Critical exponents for the 3D O(n)-symmetric model with n > 3 are estimated on the base of six-loop renormalization-group (RG) expansions. A simple Pade-Borel technique is used for the resummation of the RG series and the Pade approximants [L/1] are shown to give rather good numerical results for all calculated quantities. For large n, the fixed point location g_c and the critical exponents are also determined directly from six-loop expansions without addressing the resummation procedure. An analysis of the numbers obtained shows that resummation becomes unnecessary when n exceeds 28 provided an accuracy of about 0.01 is adopted as satisfactory for g_c and critical exponents. Further, results of the calculations performed are used to estimate the numerical accuracy of the 1/n-expansion. The same value n = 28 is shown to play the role of the lower boundary of the domain where this approximation provides high-precision estimates for the critical exponents.Comment: 10 pages, TeX, no figure

Critical Exponents of the pure and random-field Ising models

We show that current estimates of the critical exponents of the three-dimensional random-field Ising model are in agreement with the exponents of the pure Ising system in dimension 3 - theta where theta is the exponent that governs the hyperscaling violation in the random case.Comment: 9 pages, 4 encapsulated Postscript figures, REVTeX 3.

Stability of a cubic fixed point in three dimensions. Critical exponents for generic N

The detailed analysis of the global structure of the renormalization-group (RG) flow diagram for a model with isotropic and cubic interactions is carried out in the framework of the massive field theory directly in three dimensions (3D) within an assumption of isotropic exchange. Perturbative expansions for RG functions are calculated for arbitrary $N$ up to the four-loop order and resummed by means of the generalized Pad$\acute{\rm e}$-Borel-Leroy technique. Coordinates and stability matrix eigenvalues for the cubic fixed point are found under the optimal value of the transformation parameter. Critical dimensionality of the model is proved to be equal to $N_c=2.89 \pm 0.02$ that agrees well with the estimate obtained on the basis of the five-loop \ve-expansion [H. Kleinert and V. Schulte-Frohlinde, Phys. Lett. B342, 284 (1995)] resummed by the above method. As a consequence, the cubic fixed point should be stable in 3D for $N\ge3$, and the critical exponents controlling phase transitions in three-dimensional magnets should belong to the cubic universality class. The critical behavior of the random Ising model being the nontrivial particular case of the cubic model when N=0 is also investigated. For all physical quantities of interest the most accurate numerical estimates with their error bounds are obtained. The results achieved in the work are discussed along with the predictions given by other theoretical approaches and experimental data.Comment: 33 pages, LaTeX, 7 PostScript figures. Final version corrected and added with an Appendix on the six-loop stud

Le niveau de compréhension de l’anglais des étudiants en médecine peut être amélioré. Résultats d’une stratégie d’évaluation systématique

Objectives To describe the level of English of a population of medical students and the improvement after the implementation of systematic assessment that all students achieve a minimal level. Population and methods For the past 5 years, all medical students in our medical school have been taking the Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC). The baseline population (students entering second year in 2004) had no specific obligation. After 2004, a score above 600 was mandatory for graduation. Teaching was oriented towards training for the TOEIC and the number of hours was more important for low-level students. Results The mean score has increased from 618 ± 146 in 2004, to 687 ± 94, 717 ± 97, 733 ± 96 and 731 ± 104 for the next four years. The proportion of students who do not achieve a score of 550 (B1 level of the European framework) has decreased from 30 to 0%. Discussion Improving the level of English of French medical students is possible, if this is made a priority. The objective, as set in engineering studies, that all medical students reach a B2 level would require national guidelines