Scaling and self-averaging in the three-dimensional random-field Ising model

We investigate, by means of extensive Monte Carlo simulations, the magnetic critical behavior of the three-dimensional bimodal random-field Ising model at the strong disorder regime. We present results in favor of the two-exponent scaling scenario, $\bar{\eta}=2\eta$, where $\eta$ and $\bar{\eta}$ are the critical exponents describing the power-law decay of the connected and disconnected correlation functions and we illustrate, using various finite-size measures and properly defined noise to signal ratios, the strong violation of self-averaging of the model in the ordered phase.Comment: 8 pages, 6 figures, to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

Multicritical Points and Crossover Mediating the Strong Violation of Universality: Wang-Landau Determinations in the Random-Bond d=2d=2 Blume-Capel model

The effects of bond randomness on the phase diagram and critical behavior of the square lattice ferromagnetic Blume-Capel model are discussed. The system is studied in both the pure and disordered versions by the same efficient two-stage Wang-Landau method for many values of the crystal field, restricted here in the second-order phase transition regime of the pure model. For the random-bond version several disorder strengths are considered. We present phase diagram points of both pure and random versions and for a particular disorder strength we locate the emergence of the enhancement of ferromagnetic order observed in an earlier study in the ex-first-order regime. The critical properties of the pure model are contrasted and compared to those of the random model. Accepting, for the weak random version, the assumption of the double logarithmic scenario for the specific heat we attempt to estimate the range of universality between the pure and random-bond models. The behavior of the strong disorder regime is also discussed and a rather complex and yet not fully understood behavior is observed. It is pointed out that this complexity is related to the ground-state structure of the random-bond version.Comment: 12 pages, 11 figures, submitted for publicatio

Wang-Landau study of the 3D Ising model with bond disorder

We implement a two-stage approach of the Wang-Landau algorithm to investigate the critical properties of the 3D Ising model with quenched bond randomness. In particular, we consider the case where disorder couples to the nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic interaction, in terms of a bimodal distribution of strong versus weak bonds. Our simulations are carried out for large ensembles of disorder realizations and lattices with linear sizes $L$ in the range $L=8-64$. We apply well-established finite-size scaling techniques and concepts from the scaling theory of disordered systems to describe the nature of the phase transition of the disordered model, departing gradually from the fixed point of the pure system. Our analysis (based on the determination of the critical exponents) shows that the 3D random-bond Ising model belongs to the same universality class with the site- and bond-dilution models, providing a single universality class for the 3D Ising model with these three types of quenched uncorrelated disorder.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, to be published in Eur. Phys. J.

Strong Violation of Critical Phenomena Universality: Wang-Landau Study of the 2d Blume-Capel Model under Bond Randomness

We study the pure and random-bond versions of the square lattice ferromagnetic Blume-Capel model, in both the first-order and second-order phase transition regimes of the pure model. Phase transition temperatures, thermal and magnetic critical exponents are determined for lattice sizes in the range L=20-100 via a sophisticated two-stage numerical strategy of entropic sampling in dominant energy subspaces, using mainly the Wang-Landau algorithm. The second-order phase transition, emerging under random bonds from the second-order regime of the pure model, has the same values of critical exponents as the 2d Ising universality class, with the effect of the bond disorder on the specific heat being well described by double-logarithmic corrections, our findings thus supporting the marginal irrelevance of quenched bond randomness. On the other hand, the second-order transition, emerging under bond randomness from the first-order regime of the pure model, has a distinctive universality class with \nu=1.30(6) and \beta/\nu=0.128(5). This amounts to a strong violation of the universality principle of critical phenomena, since these two second-order transitions, with different sets of critical exponents, are between the same ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Furthermore, the latter of these two transitions supports an extensive but weak universality, since it has the same magnetic critical exponent (but a different thermal critical exponent) as a wide variety of two-dimensional systems. In the conversion by bond randomness of the first-order transition of the pure system to second order, we detect, by introducing and evaluating connectivity spin densities, a microsegregation that also explains the increase we find in the phase transition temperature under bond randomness.Comment: Added discussion and references. 10 pages, 6 figures. Published versio

Critical behavior of the pure and random-bond two-dimensional triangular Ising ferromagnet

We investigate the effects of quenched bond randomness on the critical properties of the two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model embedded in a triangular lattice. The system is studied in both the pure and disordered versions by the same efficient two-stage Wang-Landau method. In the first part of our study we present the finite-size scaling behavior of the pure model, for which we calculate the critical amplitude of the specific heat's logarithmic expansion. For the disordered system, the numerical data and the relevant detailed finite-size scaling analysis along the lines of the two well-known scenarios - logarithmic corrections versus weak universality - strongly support the field-theoretically predicted scenario of logarithmic corrections. A particular interest is paid to the sample-to-sample fluctuations of the random model and their scaling behavior that are used as a successful alternative approach to criticality.Comment: 10 pages, 8 figures, slightly revised version as accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Structural Properties of Self-Attracting Walks

Self-attracting walks (SATW) with attractive interaction u > 0 display a swelling-collapse transition at a critical u_{\mathrm{c}} for dimensions d >= 2, analogous to the \Theta transition of polymers. We are interested in the structure of the clusters generated by SATW below u_{\mathrm{c}} (swollen walk), above u_{\mathrm{c}} (collapsed walk), and at u_{\mathrm{c}}, which can be characterized by the fractal dimensions of the clusters d_{\mathrm{f}} and their interface d_{\mathrm{I}}. Using scaling arguments and Monte Carlo simulations, we find that for u<u_{\mathrm{c}}, the structures are in the universality class of clusters generated by simple random walks. For u>u_{\mathrm{c}}, the clusters are compact, i.e. d_{\mathrm{f}}=d and d_{\mathrm{I}}=d-1. At u_{\mathrm{c}}, the SATW is in a new universality class. The clusters are compact in both d=2 and d=3, but their interface is fractal: d_{\mathrm{I}}=1.50\pm0.01 and 2.73\pm0.03 in d=2 and d=3, respectively. In d=1, where the walk is collapsed for all u and no swelling-collapse transition exists, we derive analytical expressions for the average number of visited sites and the mean time to visit S sites.Comment: 15 pages, 8 postscript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Universality of the Ising and the S=1 model on Archimedean lattices: A Monte Carlo determination

The Ising model S=1/2 and the S=1 model are studied by efficient Monte Carlo schemes on the (3,4,6,4) and the (3,3,3,3,6) Archimedean lattices. The algorithms used, a hybrid Metropolis-Wolff algorithm and a parallel tempering protocol, are briefly described and compared with the simple Metropolis algorithm. Accurate Monte Carlo data are produced at the exact critical temperatures of the Ising model for these lattices. Their finite-size analysis provide, with high accuracy, all critical exponents which, as expected, are the same with the well known 2d Ising model exact values. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis of our Monte Carlo data for the S=1 model on the same lattices provides very clear evidence that this model obeys, also very well, the 2d Ising model critical exponents. As a result, we find that recent Monte Carlo simulations and attempts to define effective dimensionality for the S=1 model on these lattices are misleading. Accurate estimates are obtained for the critical amplitudes of the logarithmic expansions of the specific heat for both models on the two Archimedean lattices.Comment: 9 pages, 11 figure

Wang-Landau study of the random bond square Ising model with nearest- and next-nearest-neighbor interactions

We report results of a Wang-Landau study of the random bond square Ising model with nearest- ($J_{nn}$) and next-nearest-neighbor ($J_{nnn}$) antiferromagnetic interactions. We consider the case $R=J_{nn}/J_{nnn}=1$ for which the competitive nature of interactions produces a sublattice ordering known as superantiferromagnetism and the pure system undergoes a second-order transition with a positive specific heat exponent $\alpha$. For a particular disorder strength we study the effects of bond randomness and we find that, while the critical exponents of the correlation length $\nu$, magnetization $\beta$, and magnetic susceptibility $\gamma$ increase when compared to the pure model, the ratios $\beta/\nu$ and $\gamma/\nu$ remain unchanged. Thus, the disordered system obeys weak universality and hyperscaling similarly to other two-dimensional disordered systems. However, the specific heat exhibits an unusually strong saturating behavior which distinguishes the present case of competing interactions from other two-dimensional random bond systems studied previously.Comment: 9 pages, 3 figures, version as accepted for publicatio

Lack of self-averaging of the specific heat in the three-dimensional random-field Ising model

We apply the recently developed critical minimum energy subspace scheme for the investigation of the random-field Ising model. We point out that this method is well suited for the study of this model. The density of states is obtained via the Wang-Landau and broad histogram methods in a unified implementation by employing the N-fold version of the Wang-Landau scheme. The random-fields are obtained from a bimodal distribution ($h_{i}=\pm2$), and the scaling of the specific heat maxima is studied on cubic lattices with sizes ranging from $L=4$ to $L=32$. Observing the finite-size scaling behavior of the maxima of the specific heats we examine the question of saturation of the specific heat. The lack of self-averaging of this quantity is fully illustrated and it is shown that this property may be related to the question mentioned above.Comment: 8 pages, 7 figures, extended version with two new figures, version as accepted for publication to Physical Review