Precise determination of critical exponents and equation of state by field theory methods

Renormalization group, and in particular its Quantum Field Theory implementation has provided us with essential tools for the description of the phase transitions and critical phenomena beyond mean field theory. We therefore review the methods, based on renormalized phi^4_3 quantum field theory and renormalization group, which have led to a precise determination of critical exponents of the N-vector model (R. Guida and J. Zinn-Justin, J. Phys. A31 (1998) 8103. cond-mat/9803240). and of the equation of state of the 3D Ising model (R. Guida and J. Zinn-Justin, Nucl. Phys. B489 [FS] (1997) 626, hep-th/9610223.). These results are among the most precise available probing field theory in a non-perturbative regime.Comment: 23 pages, tex, private macros, one figur

Application of Minimal Subtraction Renormalization to Crossover Behavior near the 3^3He Liquid-Vapor Critical Point

Parametric expressions are used to calculate the isothermal susceptibility, specific heat, order parameter, and correlation length along the critical isochore and coexistence curve from the asymptotic region to crossover region. These expressions are based on the minimal-subtraction renormalization scheme within the $\phi^4$ model. Using two adjustable parameters in these expressions, we fit the theory globally to recently obtained experimental measurements of isothermal susceptibility and specific heat along the critical isochore and coexistence curve, and early measurements of coexistence curve and light scattering intensity along the critical isochore of $^3$He near its liquid-vapor critical point. The theory provides good agreement with these experimental measurements within the reduced temperature range $|t| \le 2\times 10^{-2}$

Surface critical behavior in fixed dimensions d<4d<4: Nonanalyticity of critical surface enhancement and massive field theory approach

The critical behavior of semi-infinite systems in fixed dimensions $d<4$ is investigated theoretically. The appropriate extension of Parisi's massive field theory approach is presented.Two-loop calculations and subsequent Pad\'e-Borel analyses of surface critical exponents of the special and ordinary phase transitions yield estimates in reasonable agreement with recent Monte Carlo results. This includes the crossover exponent $\Phi (d=3)$, for which we obtain the values $\Phi (n=1)\simeq 0.54$ and $\Phi (n=0)\simeq 0.52$, considerably lower than the previous $\epsilon$-expansion estimates.Comment: Latex with Revtex-Stylefiles, 4 page

Effective potential in three-dimensional O(N) models

We consider the effective potential in three-dimensional models with O(N) symmetry. For generic values of N, and in particular for the physically interesting cases N=0,1,2,3, we determine the six-point and eight-point renormalized coupling constants which parametrize its small-field expansion. These estimates are obtained from the analysis of their $\epsilon$-expansion, taking into account the exact results in one and zero dimensions, and, for the Ising model (i.e. N=1), the accurate high-temperature estimates in two dimensions. They are compared with the available results from other approaches. We also obtain corresponding estimates for the two-dimensional O($N$) models.Comment: 22 pages, revtex, 2 fig

Crossover scaling from classical to nonclassical critical behavior

We study the crossover between classical and nonclassical critical behaviors. The critical crossover limit is driven by the Ginzburg number G. The corresponding scaling functions are universal with respect to any possible microscopic mechanism which can vary G, such as changing the range or the strength of the interactions. The critical crossover describes the unique flow from the unstable Gaussian to the stable nonclassical fixed point. The scaling functions are related to the continuum renormalization-group functions. We show these features explicitly in the large-N limit of the O(N) phi^4 model. We also show that the effective susceptibility exponent is nonmonotonic in the low-temperature phase of the three-dimensional Ising model.Comment: 5 pages, final version to appear in Phys. Rev.

Minimal renormalization without \epsilon-expansion: Three-loop amplitude functions of the O(n) symmetric \phi^4 model in three dimensions below T_c

We present an analytic three-loop calculation for thermodynamic quantities of the O(n) symmetric \phi^4 theory below T_c within the minimal subtraction scheme at fixed dimension d=3. Goldstone singularities arising at an intermediate stage in the calculation of O(n) symmetric quantities cancel among themselves leaving a finite result in the limit of zero external field. From the free energy we calculate the three-loop terms of the amplitude functions f_phi, F+ and F- of the order parameter and the specific heat above and below T_c, respectively, without using the \epsilon=4-d expansion. A Borel resummation for the case n=2 yields resummed amplitude functions f_phi and F- that are slightly larger than the one-loop results. Accurate knowledge of these functions is needed for testing the renormalization-group prediction of critical-point universality along the \lambda-line of superfluid He(4). Combining the three-loop result for F- with a recent five-loop calculation of the additive renormalization constant of the specific heat yields excellent agreement between the calculated and measured universal amplitude ratio A+/A- of the specific heat of He(4). In addition we use our result for f_phi to calculate the universal combination R_C of the amplitudes of the order parameter, the susceptibility and the specific heat for n=2 and n=3. Our Borel-resummed three-loop result for R_C is significantly more accurate than the previous result obtained from the \epsilon-expansion up to O(\epsilon^2).Comment: 29 pages LaTeX including 3 PostScript figures, to appear in Nucl. Phys. B [FS] (1998

Minimal renormalization without epsilon-expansion: Amplitude functions in three dimensions below T_c

Massive field theory at fixed dimension d<4 is combined with the minimal subtraction scheme to calculate the amplitude functions of thermodynamic quantities for the O(n) symmetric phi^4 model below T_c in two-loop order. Goldstone singularities arising at an intermediate stage in the calculation of O(n) symmetric quantities are shown to cancel among themselves leaving a finite result in the limit of zero external field. From the free energy we calculate the amplitude functions in zero field for the order parameter, specific heat and helicity modulus (superfluid density) in three dimensions. We also calculate the q^2 part of the inverse of the wavenumber-dependent transverse susceptibility chi_T(q) which provides an independent check of our result for the helicity modulus. The two-loop contributions to the superfluid density and specific heat below T_c turn out to be comparable in magnitude to the one-loop contributions, indicating the necessity of higher-order calculations and Pade-Borel type resummations.Comment: 41 pages, LaTeX, 8 PostScript figures, submitted to NPB [FS

Massive Field-Theory Approach to Surface Critical Behavior in Three-Dimensional Systems

The massive field-theory approach for studying critical behavior in fixed space dimensions $d<4$ is extended to systems with surfaces.This enables one to study surface critical behavior directly in dimensions $d<4$ without having to resort to the $\epsilon$ expansion. The approach is elaborated for the representative case of the semi-infinite |\bbox{\phi}|^4 $n$-vector model with a boundary term {1/2} c_0\int_{\partial V}\bbox{\phi}^2 in the action. To make the theory uv finite in bulk dimensions $3\le d<4$, a renormalization of the surface enhancement $c_0$ is required in addition to the standard mass renormalization. Adequate normalization conditions for the renormalized theory are given. This theory involves two mass parameter: the usual bulk `mass' (inverse correlation length) $m$, and the renormalized surface enhancement $c$. Thus the surface renormalization factors depend on the renormalized coupling constant $u$ and the ratio $c/m$. The special and ordinary surface transitions correspond to the limits $m\to 0$ with $c/m\to 0$ and $c/m\to\infty$, respectively. It is shown that the surface-enhancement renormalization turns into an additive renormalization in the limit $c/m\to\infty$. The renormalization factors and exponent functions with $c/m=0$ and $c/m=\infty$ that are needed to determine the surface critical exponents of the special and ordinary transitions are calculated to two-loop order. The associated series expansions are analyzed by Pad\'e-Borel summation techniques. The resulting numerical estimates for the surface critical exponents are in good agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulations. This also holds for the surface crossover exponent $\Phi$.Comment: Revtex, 40 pages, 3 figures, and 8 pictograms (included in equations

Quantum phase transitions and thermodynamic properties in highly anisotropic magnets

The systems exhibiting quantum phase transitions (QPT) are investigated within the Ising model in the transverse field and Heisenberg model with easy-plane single-site anisotropy. Near QPT a correspondence between parameters of these models and of quantum phi^4 model is established. A scaling analysis is performed for the ground-state properties. The influence of the external longitudinal magnetic field on the ground-state properties is investigated, and the corresponding magnetic susceptibility is calculated. Finite-temperature properties are considered with the use of the scaling analysis for the effective classical model proposed by Sachdev. Analytical results for the ordering temperature and temperature dependences of the magnetization and energy gap are obtained in the case of a small ground-state moment. The forms of dependences of observable quantities on the bare splitting (or magnetic field) and renormalized splitting turn out to be different. A comparison with numerical calculations and experimental data on systems demonstrating magnetic and structural transitions (e.g., into singlet state) is performed.Comment: 46 pages, RevTeX, 6 figure

Five-loop additive renormalization in the phi^4 theory and amplitude functions of the minimally renormalized specific heat in three dimensions

We present an analytic five-loop calculation for the additive renormalization constant A(u,epsilon) and the associated renormalization-group function B(u) of the specific heat of the O(n) symmetric phi^4 theory within the minimal subtraction scheme. We show that this calculation does not require new five-loop integrations but can be performed on the basis of the previous five-loop calculation of the four-point vertex function combined with an appropriate identification of symmetry factors of vacuum diagrams. We also determine the amplitude functions of the specific heat in three dimensions for n=1,2,3 above T_c and for n=1 below T_c up to five-loop order. Accurate results are obtained from Borel resummations of B(u) for n=1,2,3 and of the amplitude functions for n=1. Previous conjectures regarding the smallness of the resummed higher-order contributions are confirmed. Borel resummed universal amplitude ratios A^+/A^- and a_c^+/a_c^- are calculated for n=1.Comment: 30 pages REVTeX, 3 PostScript figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.