Violation of Finite-Size Scaling in Three Dimensions

We reexamine the range of validity of finite-size scaling in the $\phi^4$ lattice model and the $\phi^4$ field theory below four dimensions. We show that general renormalization-group arguments based on the renormalizability of the $\phi^4$ theory do not rule out the possibility of a violation of finite-size scaling due to a finite lattice constant and a finite cutoff. For a confined geometry of linear size $L$ with periodic boundary conditions we analyze the approach towards bulk critical behavior as $L \to \infty$ at fixed $\xi$ for $T > T_c$ where $\xi$ is the bulk correlation length. We show that for this analysis ordinary renormalized perturbation theory is sufficient. On the basis of one-loop results and of exact results in the spherical limit we find that finite-size scaling is violated for both the $\phi^4$ lattice model and the $\phi^4$ field theory in the region $L \gg \xi$. The non-scaling effects in the field theory and in the lattice model differ significantly from each other.Comment: LaTex, 51 page

Non-universal critical Casimir force in confined 4^4He near the superfluid transition

We present the results of a one-loop calculation of the effect of a van der Waals type interaction potential $\sim | {\bf x} |^{-d-\sigma}$ on the critical Casimir force and specific heat of confined $^4$He near the superfluid transition. We consider a $^4$He film of thickness $L$. In the region $L \gtrsim \xi$ (correlation length) we find that the van der Waals interaction causes a leading non-universal non-scaling contribution of $O (\xi^2 L^{-d-\sigma})$ to the critical temperature dependence of the Casimir force above $T_\lambda$ that dominates the universal scaling contribution $\sim e^{- L/\xi}$ predicted by earlier theories. For the specific heat we find subleading non-scaling contributions of $O(L^{-1})$ and $O(L^{-d-\sigma})$.Comment: 2 pages, submitted to LT23 Proceedings on June 14, 2002, accepted for publication in Physica B on September 12, 200

Relation between bulk order-parameter correlation function and finite-size scaling

We study the large-$r$ behavior of the bulk order-parameter correlation function $G(\bf{r})$ for $T>T_c$ within the lattice $\phi^4$ theory. We also study the large-$L$ behavior of the susceptibility $\chi$ of the confined lattice system of size $L$ with periodic boundary conditions. The large-$L$ behavior of $\chi$ is closely related to the large-$r$ behavior of $G(\bf{r})$. Explicit results are derived for $d>2$. Finite-size scaling must be formulated in terms of the anisotropic exponential correlation length $\xi_1$ that governs the decay of $G(\bf{r})$ for large $r$ rather than in terms of the isotropic correlation length $\xi$ defined via the second moment of $G(\bf{r})$. This result modifies a recent interpretation concerning an apparent violation of finite-size scaling in terms of $\xi \neq \xi_1$. Exact results for the $d=1$ Ising model illustrate our conclusions. Furthermore, we show that the exponential finite-size behavior for $L/\xi\gg 1$ is not captured by the standard perturbation approach that separates the lowest mode from the higher modes. Consequences for the theory of finite-size effects for $d>4$ are discussed. The two-variable finite-size scaling form predicts an approach $\propto e^{-L/\xi_1}$ to the bulk critical behavior whereas a single-variable scaling form implies a power-law approach $\propto L^{-d}$.Comment: LaTex, 59 pages, accepted for publication in Eur. Phys. J.

Nonmonotonic External Field Dependence of the Magnetization in a Finite Ising Model: Theory and MC Simulation

Using $\phi^4$ field theory and Monte Carlo (MC) simulation we investigate the finite-size effects of the magnetization $M$ for the three-dimensional Ising model in a finite cubic geometry with periodic boundary conditions. The field theory with infinite cutoff gives a scaling form of the equation of state $h/M^\delta = f(hL^{\beta\delta/\nu}, t/h^{1/\beta\delta})$ where $t=(T-T_c)/T_c$ is the reduced temperature, $h$ is the external field and $L$ is the size of system. Below $T_c$ and at $T_c$ the theory predicts a nonmonotonic dependence of $f(x,y)$ with respect to $x \equiv hL^{\beta\delta/\nu}$ at fixed $y \equiv t/h^{1/\beta \delta}$ and a crossover from nonmonotonic to monotonic behaviour when $y$ is further increased. These results are confirmed by MC simulation. The scaling function $f(x,y)$ obtained from the field theory is in good quantitative agreement with the finite-size MC data. Good agreement is also found for the bulk value $f(\infty,0)$ at $T_c$.Comment: LaTex, 12 page

Finite-Size Effects in the ϕ4\phi^{4} Field Theory Above the Upper Critical Dimension

We demonstrate that the standard O(n) symmetric $\phi^{4}$ field theory does not correctly describe the leading finite-size effects near the critical point of spin systems on a $d$-dimensional lattice with $d > 4$. We show that these finite-size effects require a description in terms of a lattice Hamiltonian. For $n \to \infty$ and $n=1$ explicit results are given for the susceptibility and for the Binder cumulant. They imply that recent analyses of Monte-Carlo results for the five-dimensional Ising model are not conclusive.Comment: 4 pages, latex, 1 figur

Lattice ϕ4\phi^4 theory of finite-size effects above the upper critical dimension

We present a perturbative calculation of finite-size effects near $T_c$ of the $\phi^4$ lattice model in a $d$-dimensional cubic geometry of size $L$ with periodic boundary conditions for $d > 4$. The structural differences between the $\phi^4$ lattice theory and the $\phi^4$ field theory found previously in the spherical limit are shown to exist also for a finite number of components of the order parameter. The two-variable finite-size scaling functions of the field theory are nonuniversal whereas those of the lattice theory are independent of the nonuniversal model parameters.One-loop results for finite-size scaling functions are derived. Their structure disagrees with the single-variable scaling form of the lowest-mode approximation for any finite $\xi/L$ where $\xi$ is the bulk correlation length. At $T_c$, the large-$L$ behavior becomes lowest-mode like for the lattice model but not for the field-theoretic model. Characteristic temperatures close to $T_c$ of the lattice model, such as $T_{max}(L)$ of the maximum of the susceptibility $\chi$, are found to scale asymptotically as $T_c - T_{max}(L) \sim L^{-d/2}$, in agreement with previous Monte Carlo (MC) data for the five-dimensional Ising model. We also predict $\chi_{max} \sim L^{d/2}$ asymptotically. On a quantitative level, the asymptotic amplitudes of this large -$L$ behavior close to $T_c$ have not been observed in previous MC simulations at $d = 5$ because of nonnegligible finite-size terms $\sim L^{(4-d)/2}$ caused by the inhomogeneous modes. These terms identify the possible origin of a significant discrepancy between the lowest-mode approximation and previous MC data. MC data of larger systems would be desirable for testing the magnitude of the $L^{(4-d)/2}$ and $L^{4-d}$ terms predicted by our theory.Comment: Accepted in Int. J. Mod. Phys.