Conformal off-diagonal boundary density profiles on a semi-infinite strip

The off-diagonal profile phi(v) associated with a local operator (order parameter or energy density) close to the boundary of a semi-infinite strip with width L is obtained at criticality using conformal methods. It involves the surface exponent x_phi^s and displays a simple universal behaviour which crosses over from surface finite-size scaling when v/L is held constant to corner finite-size scaling when v/L -> 0.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, IOP macros and eps

Critical behaviour near multiple junctions and dirty surfaces in the two-dimensional Ising model

We consider m two-dimensional semi-infinite planes of Ising spins joined together through surface spins and study the critical behaviour near to the junction. The m=0 limit of the model - according to the replica trick - corresponds to the semi-infinite Ising model in the presence of a random surface field (RSFI). Using conformal mapping, second-order perturbation expansion around the weakly- and strongly-coupled planes limits and differential renormalization group, we show that the surface critical behaviour of the RSFI model is described by Ising critical exponents with logarithmic corrections to scaling, while at multiple junctions (m>2) the transition is first order. There is a spontaneous junction magnetization at the bulk critical point.Comment: Old paper, for archiving. 6 pages, 1 figure, IOP macro, eps

Radial Fredholm perturbation in the two-dimensional Ising model and gap-exponent relation

We consider concentric circular defects in the two-dimensional Ising model, which are distributed according to a generalized Fredholm sequence, i. e. at exponentially increasing radii. This type of aperiodicity does not change the bulk critical behaviour but introduces a marginal extended perturbation. The critical exponent of the local magnetization is obtained through finite-size scaling, using a corner transfer matrix approach in the extreme anisotropic limit. It varies continuously with the amplitude of the modulation and is closely related to the magnetic exponent of the radial Hilhorst-van Leeuwen model. Through a conformal mapping of the system onto a strip, the gap-exponent relation is shown to remain valid for such an aperiodic defect.Comment: 12 pages, TeX file + 4 figures, epsf neede

Scaling properties at the interface between different critical subsystems: The Ashkin-Teller model

We consider two critical semi-infinite subsystems with different critical exponents and couple them through their surfaces. The critical behavior at the interface, influenced by the critical fluctuations of the two subsystems, can be quite rich. In order to examine the various possibilities, we study a system composed of two coupled Ashkin-Teller models with different four-spin couplings epsilon, on the two sides of the junction. By varying epsilon, some bulk and surface critical exponents of the two subsystems are continuously modified, which in turn changes the interface critical behavior. In particular we study the marginal situation, for which magnetic critical exponents at the interface vary continuously with the strength of the interaction parameter. The behavior expected from scaling arguments is checked by DMRG calculations.Comment: 10 pages, 9 figures. Minor correction

Scaling of the atmosphere of self-avoiding walks

The number of free sites next to the end of a self-avoiding walk is known as the atmosphere. The average atmosphere can be related to the number of configurations. Here we study the distribution of atmospheres as a function of length and how the number of walks of fixed atmosphere scale. Certain bounds on these numbers can be proved. We use Monte Carlo estimates to verify our conjectures. Of particular interest are walks that have zero atmosphere, which are known as trapped. We demonstrate that these walks scale in the same way as the full set of self-avoiding walks, barring an overall constant factor

Surface Properties of Aperiodic Ising Quantum Chains

We consider Ising quantum chains with quenched aperiodic disorder of the coupling constants given through general substitution rules. The critical scaling behaviour of several bulk and surface quantities is obtained by exact real space renormalization.Comment: 4 pages, RevTex, reference update

Marginal Extended Perturbations in Two Dimensions and Gap-Exponent Relations

The most general form of a marginal extended perturbation in a two-dimensional system is deduced from scaling considerations. It includes as particular cases extended perturbations decaying either from a surface, a line or a point for which exact results have been previously obtained. The first-order corrections to the local exponents, which are functions of the amplitude of the defect, are deduced from a perturbation expansion of the two-point correlation functions. Assuming covariance under conformal transformation, the perturbed system is mapped onto a cylinder. Working in the Hamiltonian limit, the first-order corrections to the lowest gaps are calculated for the Ising model. The results confirm the validity of the gap-exponent relations for the perturbed system.Comment: 11 pages, Plain TeX, eps

Critical behavior at the interface between two systems belonging to different universality classes

We consider the critical behavior at an interface which separates two semi-infinite subsystems belonging to different universality classes, thus having different set of critical exponents, but having a common transition temperature. We solve this problem analytically in the frame of mean-field theory, which is then generalized using phenomenological scaling considerations. A large variety of interface critical behavior is obtained which is checked numerically on the example of two-dimensional q-state Potts models with q=2 to 4. Weak interface couplings are generally irrelevant, resulting in the same critical behavior at the interface as for a free surface. With strong interface couplings, the interface remains ordered at the bulk transition temperature. More interesting is the intermediate situation, the special interface transition, when the critical behavior at the interface involves new critical exponents, which however can be expressed in terms of the bulk and surface exponents of the two subsystems. We discuss also the smooth or discontinuous nature of the order parameter profile.Comment: 16 pages, 9 figures, published version, minor changes, some references adde

Fluctuating Bond Aggregation: a Model for Chemical Gel Formation

The Diffusion-Limited Cluster-Cluster Aggregation (DLCA) model is modified by including cluster deformations using the {\it bond fluctuation} algorithm. From 3$d$ computer simulations, it is shown that, below a given threshold value $c_g$ of the volumic fraction $c$, the realization of all intra-aggregate bonding possibilities prevents the formation of a gelling network. For $c>c_g$, the sol-gel transition occurs at a time $t_g$ which, in contrast to DLCA, doesnot diverge with the box size. Several results are reported including small angle scattering curves and possible applications are discussed.Comment: RevTex, 9 pages + 3 postscript figures appended using "uufiles". To appear in Phys. Rev. Let