The dynamical structure factor in disordered systems

We study the spectral width as a function of the external momentum for the dynamical structure factor of a disordered harmonic solid, considered as a toy model for supercooled liquids and glasses. Both in the context of single-link coherent potential approximation and of a single-defect approximation, two different regimes are clearly identified: if the density of states at zero energy is zero, the Rayleigh $p^4$ law is recovered for small momentum. On the contrary, if the disorder induces a non vanishing density of states at zero energy, a linear behaviour is obtained. The dynamical structure factor is numerically calculated in lattices as large as $96^3$, and satisfactorily agrees with the analytical computations.Comment: 7 pages plus 4 postscript figure

Critical exponents and unusual properties of the broken phase in the 3d-RP(2) antiferromagnetic model

We present the results of a Monte Carlo simulation of the antiferromagnetic RP(2) model in three dimensions. With finite-size scaling techniques we accurately measure the critical exponents and compare them with those of O(N) models. We are able to parameterize the corrections-to-scaling. The symmetry properties of the broken phase are also studied.Comment: 4 pages, TeX type, Poster session contribution to "Lattice96" conference, Washington University, StLoui

A lattice field theoretical model for high-TcT_c superconductivity

We present a 2+1-dimensional lattice model for the copper oxide superconductors and their parent compounds, in which both the charge and spin degrees of freedom are treated dynamically. The spin-charge coupling parameter is associated to the doping fraction in the cuprates. The model is able to account for the various phases of the cuprates and their properties, not only at low and intermediate doping but also for (highly) over-doped compounds. We acquire a qualitative understanding of high-$T_c$ superconductivity as a Bose-Einstein condensation of bound charge pairs.Comment: talk presented in the Lattice 97 conferenc

Phase Transitions in Disordered Systems: The Example of the Random-Field Ising Model in Four Dimensions

By performing a high-statistics simulation of the D=4 random-field Ising model at zero temperature for different shapes of the random-field distribution, we show that the model is ruled by a single universality class. We compute to a high accuracy the complete set of critical exponents for this class, including the correction-to-scaling exponent. Our results indicate that in four dimensions (i) dimensional reduction as predicted by the perturbative renormalization group does not hold and (ii) three independent critical exponents are needed to describe the transition

Finite-size scaling study of the d=4 site-diluted Ising

We study the four dimensional site-diluted Ising model using finite-size scaling techniques. We explore the whole parameter space (density-coupling) in order to determine the Universality Class of the transition line. Our data are compatible with Mean Field behavior plus logarithmic corrections.Comment: Contribution to LATTICE 9

Equilibrium fluid-solid coexistence of hard spheres

We present a tethered Monte Carlo simulation of the crystallization of hard spheres. Our method boosts the traditional umbrella sampling to the point of making practical the study of constrained Gibb's free energies depending on several crystalline order-parameters. We obtain high-accuracy estimates of the fluid-crystal coexistence pressure for up to 2916 particles (enough to accommodate fluid-solid interfaces). We are able to extrapolate to infinite volume the coexistence pressure (p_{co}=11.5727(10) k_B T/\sigma^3) and the interfacial free energy (\gamma_{100}=0.636(11) k_B T/\sigma^2).Comment: 6 pages, 4 pdf figures. Version to be published in PRL. Appendices contain Supplemental Materia

Monte Carlo studies of antiferromagnetic spin models in three dimensions

We study several antiferromagnetic formulations of the O(3) spin model in three dimensions by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We discuss about the vacua properties and analyze the phase transitions. Using Finite Size Scaling analysis we conclude that all phase transitions found are of first orderComment: 4 pages, 2 Postscript figures. Contribution to Lattice '9

Phase diagram of a polydisperse soft-spheres model for liquids and colloids

The phase diagram of soft spheres with size dispersion has been studied by means of an optimized Monte Carlo algorithm which allows to equilibrate below the kinetic glass transition for all sizes distribution. The system ubiquitously undergoes a first order freezing transition. While for small size dispersion the frozen phase has a crystalline structure, large density inhomogeneities appear in the highly disperse systems. Studying the interplay between the equilibrium phase diagram and the kinetic glass transition, we argue that the experimentally found terminal polydispersity of colloids is a purely kinetic phenomenon.Comment: Version to be published in Physical Review Letter

Separation and fractionation of order and disorder in highly polydisperse systems

Microcanonical Monte Carlo simulations of a polydisperse soft-spheres model for liquids and colloids have been performed for very large polydispersity, in the region where a phase-separation is known to occur when the system (or part of it) solidifies. By studying samples of different sizes, from N=256 to N=864, we focus on the nature of the two distinct coexisting phases. Measurements of crystalline order in particles of different size reveal that the solid phase segregates between a crystalline solid with cubic symmetry and a disordered phase. This phenomenon is termed fractionation.Comment: 8 pages, 5 figure

A model for the doped copper oxide compounds

We present a relativistic spin-fermion model for the cuprates, in which both the charge and spin degrees of freedom are treated dynamically. The spin-charge coupling parameter is associated with the doping fraction. The model is able to account for the various phases of the cuprates and their properties, not only at low and intermediate doping but also for (highly) over-doped compounds. In particular, we acquire a qualitative understanding of high-T_c superconductivity through Bose-Einstein condensation of bound charge pairs. The mechanism that binds these pairs does not require a Fermi sea.Comment: 9 pages, 2 postscript figures. Version accepted for publication in Europhys. Let