Nonintersecting string model and graphical approach: Equivalence with a Potts model

Using a graphical method we establish the exact equivalence of the partition function of aq-state nonintersecting string (NIS) model on an arbitrary planar, even-valenced, lattice with that of a q²-state Potts model on a related lattice. The NIS model considered in this paper is one in which the vertex weights are expressible as sums of those of basic vertex types, and the resulting Potts model generally has multispin interactions. For the square and Kagomé lattices this leads to the equivalence of a staggered NIS model with Potts models with anisotropic pair interactions, indicating that these NIS models have a first-order transition forq > 2. For the triangular lattice the NIS model turns out to be the five-vertex model of Wu and Lin and it relates to a Potts model with two- and three-site interactions. The most general model we discuss is an oriented NIS model which contains the six-vertex model and the NIS models of Stroganov and Schultz as special cases.     

Cyclic period-3 window in antiferromagnetic potts and Ising models on recursive lattices

The magnetic properties of the antiferromagnetic Potts model with two-site interaction and the antiferromagnetic Ising model with three-site interaction on recursive lattices have been studied. A cyclic period-3 window has been revealed by the recurrence relation method in the antiferromagnetic Q-state Potts model on the Bethe lattice (at Q < 2) and in the antiferromagnetic Ising model with three-site interaction on the Husimi cactus. The Lyapunov exponents have been calculated, modulated phases and a chaotic regime in the cyclic period-3 window have been found for one-dimensional rational mappings determined the properties of these systems.     

Critical behavior of a three-state Potts model on a Voronoi lattice

We use the single-histogram technique to study the critical behavior of the three-state Potts model on a (random) Voronoi-Delaunay lattice with size ranging from 250 to 8 000 sites. We consider the effect of an exponential decay of the interactions with the distance, , with a>0, and observe that this system seems to have critical exponents and which are different from the respective exponents of the three-state Potts model on a regular square lattice. However, the ratio remains essentially the same. We find numerical evidences (although not conclusive, due to the small range of system size) that the specific heat on this random system behaves as a power-law for a=0 and as a logarithmic divergence for a=0.5 and a=1.0 Received 5 April 2000     

Exact results on the random Potts model

We present a number of exact results on the random-bond,q-state Potts model. The quenched model on any finite planar graph or lattice is shown to obey a duality relation for general type of bond-randomness. In the annealed case, the solution of the model reduces to that of the regular (nonrandom) Potts model on the corresponding lattice. Explicit knowledge of the critical parameters of theq-state Potts model in two dimensions allows us to evaluate exactly the phase diagram of the annealed model on the square, triangular and honeycomb lattices. We discuss the behavior near the (random) critical point and comment on the relationship between the quenched and annealed systems. The exact phase diagram of the annealed system is obtained for the bond-diluted model and the spin-glass model with and without dilutions.Work supported in part by NSF grant No. DMR-78-18808     

The kinetic Potts chain and related potts models with competing interactions

We consider a general kinetic model for a chain of three-state Potts spins. From the time-evolution operator we infer points in two-dimensional Potts systems where certain spin correlations have one-dimensional character and the model is exactly solvable. This occurs in square lattice models with different kinds of competing interactions.     

Edge linking and image segmentation by combining optical and digital methods

We present a hybrid method for segmentation of intensity images, which combines an optical contouring technique and digital algorithms for linking edge points or image segmentation. In a first stage, the digital image to be processed is displayed in a twisted-nematic liquid-crystal display (LCD), which is placed between a polarizer–analyzer pair at 45 deg (instead of 90 deg as occurs in standard LCDs). It is not difficult to demonstrate that the proposed setup produces a resultant image with very pronounced dark contours at middle intensity. After the optical preprocessing, two different digital algorithms are applied: an edge linking algorithm (modified chain code) and a simple thresholding technique for image segmentation. The proposed procedure works well with monochromatic and color images. The method could be useful as a robust technique for segmentation of large images in real-time, which presents potential applications in medical and biological imaging.     

Duality in two-dimensional Z(N)-symmetric spin models on a finite lattice

We propose a method for deriving duality relations for two-dimensional inhomogeneous Z(N)-symmetric models on a finite square lattice wound around a torus. The method is used to obtain duality relations for the vector Potts model, the Berezinskii-Villain Z(N)-model, the Ashkin-Teller model, and the 8-vertex model on a lattice obliquely wound around a torus, as well as an exact relation linking the partition functions of the latter two models. Zh. éksp. Teor. Fiz. 113, 240–260 (January 1998)     

A numerical method to compute exactly the partition function with application toZ(n) theories in two dimensions

I present a new method to exactly compute the partition function of a class of discrete models in arbitrary dimensions. The time for the computation for ann-state model on anL ^d lattice scales like . I show examples of the use of this method by computing the partition function of the 2D Ising and 3-state Potts models for maximum lattice sizes 10×10 and 8×8, respectively. The critical exponentsv and and the critical temperature one obtains from these are very near the exactly known values. The distribution of zeros of the partition function of the Potts model leads to the conjecture that the ratio of the amplitudes of the specific heat below and above the critical temperature is unity.     

New solvable lattice models in three dimensions

In this paper we establish a remarkable connection between two seemingly unrelated topics in the area of solvable lattice models. The first is the Zamolodchikov model, which is the only nontrivial model on a three-dimen-sional lattice so far solved. The second is the chiral Potts model on the square lattice and its generalization associated with theU _q(sl(n)) algebra, which is of current interest due to its connections with high-genus algebraic curves and with representations of quantum groups at roots of unity. We show that this last sl(n)-generalized chiral Potts model can be interpreted as a model on a threedimensional simple cubic lattice consisting ofn square-lattice layers with anN- valued (N2) spin at each site. Further, in theN=2 case this three-dimen-sional model reduces (after a modification of the boundary conditions) to the Zamolodchikov model we mentioned above.     

The inversion relation method for some two-dimensional exactly solved models in lattice statistics

The partition-functions-per-site of several two-dimensional models (notably the eight-vertex, self-dual Potts and hard-hexagon models) can be easily obtained by using an inversion relation for local transfer matrices, together with symmetry and analyticity properties. This technique is discussed, the analyticity properties compared, and some equivalences (and nonequivalences) pointed out. In particular, the critical hard-hexagon model is found to have the same as the self-dualq-state Potts model, withq=(3 + 5)/2 = 2.618 .... The Temperley-Lieb equivalence between the Potts and six-vertex models is found to fail in certain nonphysical antiferromagnetic cases.     

Automatic knee cartilage segmentation from multi-contrast MR images using support vector machine classification with spatial dependencies

Accurate segmentation of knee cartilage is required to obtain quantitative cartilage measurements, which is crucial for the assessment of knee pathology caused by musculoskeletal diseases or sudden injuries. This paper presents an automatic knee cartilage segmentation technique which exploits a rich set of image features from multi-contrast magnetic resonance (MR) images and the spatial dependencies between neighbouring voxels. The image features and the spatial dependencies are modelled into a support vector machine (SVM)-based association potential and a discriminative random field (DRF)-based interaction potential. Subsequently, both potentials are incorporated into an inference graphical model such that the knee cartilage segmentation is cast into an optimal labelling problem which can be efficiently solved by loopy belief propagation. The effectiveness of the proposed technique is validated on a database of multi-contrast MR images. The experimental results show that using diverse forms of image and anatomical structure information as the features are helpful in improving the segmentation, and the joint SVM-DRF model is superior to the classification models based solely on DRF or SVM in terms of accuracy when the same features are used. The developed segmentation technique achieves good performance compared with gold standard segmentations and obtained higher average DSC values than the state-of-the-art automatic cartilage segmentation studies.     

Automatic Young's fringe analysis in the source image plane

Typically Young's fringe pattern automatic analysis from a double-exposure image (e.g. a photograph) passes through an indirect processing stage on some intermediate parameter domain. Here, we propose a method based on a complicated image processing technique, operating directly with the source fringe image pixels, and providing remarkable accuracy and computational time. This method is intended for laser speckle velocimetry (LSV), particle image velovimetry (PIV), and digital image velocimetry (DIV) applications. Assuming a common fringe pattern model, we introduce a pre-processing stage to improve significantly the fringe discernment. A dynamic thresholding segmentation scheme, adjusted to the fringe spatial structure, follows to localize the fringes being quantitatively attributed with the corresponding eigenvectors. The algorithm has been tested on real patterns as well as on a set of artifically simulated images with pre-defined characteristics.     

Order and disorder lines in systems with competing interactions. III. Exact results from stochastic crystal growth

The methods presented in the first two articles of this series are simplified and generalized by growing stationary stochastic crystals from a given Ansatz layer. On the disorder trajectory the free energy, correlation functions, and multicritical points are calculated explicitly for a large class of models with competing interactions, including the staggered eight-vertex model, the general sixteen-vertex model, theq-state Potts model on a triangular lattice, a generalZ(q) model, and restricted spin glass models in two dimensions.     

Orientational structures in nematic droplets with conical boundary conditions

Slightly diluted magnetic systems described by the disordered three-dimensional Potts model with the number of spin states q = 3 are studied in the case of a simple cubic lattice. The position of the tricritical point in the phase diagram is determined using the histogram Monte Carlo technique.     

Topology of the space of periodic ground states in the antiferromagnetic Ising and Potts models in selected spatial structures

Topology of the space of periodic ground states in the antiferromagnetic Ising and Potts (3-state) models is analysed in selected spatial structures. The states are treated as graph nodes, connected by one-spin-flip transitions. The spatial structures are the triangular lattice, the Archimedean (3,¹²²) lattice and the cubic Laves C15 lattice with the periodic boundary conditions. In most cases the ground states are isolated nodes, but for selected systems we obtain connected graphs. The latter means that the magnetisation can vary in time with zero energy cost. The ground states are classified according to their degree and type of neighbours.     

Phase transitions in the two-dimensional ferro- and antiferromagnetic potts models on a triangular lattice

The phase transitions in the two-dimensional ferro- and antiferromagnetic Potts models with q = 3 states of spin on a triangular lattice are studied using cluster algorithms and the classical Monte Carlo method. Systems with linear sizes L = 20–120 are considered. The method of fourth-order Binder cumulants and histogram analysis are used to discover that a second-order phase transition occurs in the ferromagnetic Potts model and a first-order phase transition takes place in the antiferromagnetic Potts model. The static critical indices of heat capacity (α), magnetic susceptibility (γ), magnetization (β), and correlation radius index (ν) are calculated for the ferromagnetic Potts model using the finite-size scaling theory.     

Phase transitions and critical phenomena in a three-dimensional site-diluted Potts model

The phase transitions and critical phenomena in the three-dimensional (3D) site-diluted q-state Potts models on a simple cubic lattice are explored. We systematically study the phase transitions of the models for q=3 and q=4 on the basis of Wolff high-effective algorithm by the Monte–Carlo (MC) method. The calculations are carried out for systems with periodic boundary conditions and spin concentrations p=1.00–0.65. It is shown that introducing of weak disorder (p∼0.95) into the system is sufficient to change the first order phase transition into a second order one for the 3D 3-state Potts model, while for the 3D 4-state Potts model, such a phase transformation occurs when introducing strong disorder (p∼0.65). Results for 3D pure 3-state and 4-state Potts models (p=1.00) agree with conclusions of mean field theory. The static critical exponents of the specific heat α, susceptibility γ, magnetization β, and the exponent of the correlation radius ν are calculated for the samples on the basis of finite-size scaling theory.     

Segmentation of holographic images using the level set method

Image segmentation, which is to distinguish objects from background, has played an important role in holographic image processing. In this work, we propose a technique that uses the combination of rough segmentation and the level set methods for segmentation of holographic images with zero-order diffraction interference. To improve the image quality, we eliminate the interference of zero-order diffraction in digital holography using Sobel differential gradient algorithm based on digital image processing. After reconstruction, the rough segmentation including intensity transformations and Morphology methods is applied to acquire the rough contour of the reconstruction image. Finally, we adopt level set methods to smooth the object contour and improve its accuracy. Segmentation results for objects in holographic images are presented.     

(Z N×) n−1 generalization of the chiral Potts model

We show that theR-matrix which intertwines twon-by-N ^n–1 state cyclicL-operators related with a generalization ofU _q(sl(n)) algebra can be considered as a Boltzmann weight of four-spin box for a lattice model with two-spin interaction just as theR-matrix of the checkerboard chiral Potts model. The rapidity variables lie on the algebraic curve of the genusg=N ^{2(n–1)((n–1)N-n)+1} defined by 2n–3 independent moduli. This curve is a natural generalization of the curve which appeared in the chiral Potts model. Factorization properties of theL-operator and its connection to the SOS models are also discussed.     

Potts model for solvent effects on polymer conformation

Orientational degrees of freedom of polymer subunits can be represented by q-state Potts variables in a lattice theory. As an example, a one-dimensional decorated-lattice model is introduced to describe the effects of a hydrogen-bonding solvent on helix-coil transitions of polypeptides. The results suggest that Potts variables provide a useful representation of highly directional interactions in a variety of systems.