Finite-Size Scaling on the Ising Coexistence Line

We study the finite-size scaling of moments of the magnetization in the low-temperature phase of the two-dimensional Ising model.Comment: talk at Lattice '92, 4 pages, Latex, needs espcrc2.sty, figures not included, CERN-TH.6724/9

Instantons and Surface Tension at a First-Order Transition

We study the dynamics of the first order phase transition in the two dimensional 15-state Potts model, both at and off equilibrium. We find that phase changes take place through nucleation in both cases, and finite volume effects are described well through an instanton computation. Thus a dynamical measurement of the surface tension is possible. We find that the order-disorder surface tension is compatible with perfect wetting. An accurate treatment of fluctuations about the instanton solution is seen to be of great importance.Comment: HLRZ 65/93 [plain TeX, 10 pages including 3 ps figures.

Finite size scaling analysis of compact QED

We describe results of a high-statistics finite size scaling analysis of 4d compact U(1) lattice gauge theory with Wilson action at the phase transition point. Using a multicanonical hybrid Monte Carlo algorithm we generate data samples with more than 150 tunneling events between the metastable states of the system, on lattice sizes up to 18^4. We performed a first analysis within the Borgs-Kotecky finite size scaling scheme. As a result, we report evidence for a first-order phase transition with a plaquette energy gap, G=0.02667(20), at a transition coupling, beta_T=1.011128(11).Comment: Lattice 2000 (Topics in Gauge Theories),6 pages, 6 figures, LaTe

Finite Size Scaling Analysis with Linked Cluster Expansions

Linked cluster expansions are generalized from an infinite to a finite volume on a $d$-dimensional hypercubic lattice. They are performed to 20th order in the expansion parameter to investigate the phase structure of scalar $O(N)$ models for the cases of $N=1$ and $N=4$ in 3 dimensions. In particular we propose a new criterion to distinguish first from second order transitions via the volume dependence of response functions for couplings close to but not at the critical value. The criterion is applicable to Monte Carlo simulations as well. Here it is used to localize the tricritical line in a $\Phi^4 + \Phi^6$ theory. We indicate further applications to the electroweak transition.Comment: 3 pages, 1 figure, Talk presented at LATTICE96(Theoretical Developments

SURFACE INDUCED FINITE-SIZE EFFECTS FOR FIRST ORDER PHASE TRANSITIONS

We consider classical lattice models describing first-order phase transitions, and study the finite-size scaling of the magnetization and susceptibility. In order to model the effects of an actual surface in systems like small magnetic clusters, we consider models with free boundary conditions. For a field driven transition with two coexisting phases at the infinite volume transition point $h=h_t$, we prove that the low temperature finite volume magnetization m_{\free}(L,h) per site in a cubic volume of size $L^d$ behaves like m_\free(L,h)=\frac{m_++m_-}2 + \frac{m_+-m_-}2 \tanh \bigl(\frac{m_+-m_-}2\,L^d\, (h-h_\chi(L))\bigr)+O(1/L), where $h_\chi(L)$ is the position of the maximum of the (finite volume) susceptibility and $m_\pm$ are the infinite volume magnetizations at $h=h_t+0$ and $h=h_t-0$, respectively. We show that $h_\chi(L)$ is shifted by an amount proportional to $1/L$ with respect to the infinite volume transitions point $h_t$ provided the surface free energies of the two phases at the transition point are different. This should be compared with the shift for periodic boun\- dary conditons, which for an asymmetric transition with two coexisting phases is proportional only to $1/L^{2d}$. One also consider the position $h_U(L)$ of the maximum of the so called Binder cummulant U_\free(L,h). While it is again shifted by an amount proportional to $1/L$ with respect to the infinite volume transition point $h_t$, its shift with respect to $h_\chi(L)$ is of the much smaller order $1/L^{2d}$. We give explicit formulas for the proportionality factors, and show that, in the leading $1/L^{2d}$ term, the relative shift is the same as that for periodic boundary conditions.Comment: 65 pages, amstex, 1 PostScript figur

Finite-Size Scaling at Phase Coexistence

{}From a finite-size scaling (FSS) theory of cumulants of the order parameter at phase coexistence points, we reconstruct the scaling of the moments. Assuming that the cumulants allow a reconstruction of the free energy density no better than as an asymptotic expansion, we find that FSS for moments of low order is still complete. We suggest ways of using this theory for the analysis of numerical simulations. We test these methods numerically through the scaling of cumulants and moments of the magnetization in the low-temperature phase of the two-dimensional Ising model. (LaTeX file; ps figures included as shar file)Comment: preprint HLRZ 27/93 and LU TP 93-

Monte Carlo Study of 8-State Potts Model on 2D Random Lattices

We study the effect of quenched coordination-number disorder of random lattices on the nature of the phase transition in the two-dimensional eight-state Potts model, which is of first order on regular lattices. We consider Poissonian random lattices of toroidal topology constructed according to the Voronoi/Delaunay prescription. Monte Carlo simulations yield strong evidence that the phase transition remains first order.Comment: 4 pages, PostScript, contribution to LATTICE95. See also http://www.cond-mat.physik.uni-mainz.de/~janke/doc/home_janke.htm