Integrable boundary Boltzmann weights and surface free energy inversion relations of the chiral Potts model

The integrability of the chiral Potts model with boundaries is considered in this paper. The boundary star-triangle relation determining the boundary Boltzmann weights for the chiral Potts model is presented. By solving the boundary star-triangle relation the boundary Boltzmann weights are obtained. The fusion procedure is then applied to derive the functional relations of the transfer matrices of the model with boundaries. From these functional relations the inversion relations of the surface free energies are extracted when the system size is big enough. Surprisingly, the inversion relation of the local surface free energy is as simple as those of other non-chiral models, but it has still to be solved.     

Interfacial tension of the chiral Potts model

We calculate the interfacial tension of theN-state chiral Potts model by solving the functional relations for the transfer matrices of the model with skewed boundary conditions. Our result is valid for the general physical model (with positive Boltzmann weights) and at all subcritical temperatures. The interfacial tension has been calculated previously for the superintegrable chiral Potts model with skewed boundary conditions. UsingZ-invariance, Baxter has argued that the interfacial tension of this model should be the same as the interfacial tension of the general physical model. We show that this is indeed the case.     

Singular critical endpoint and phase diagrams of the anisotropic 3-state Potts model on square lattice

We have studied the ground state and thermodynamic properties of the anisotropic 3-state Potts model on square lattice by means of the tensor network-based numerical method. The phase diagrams of this model in the ground state and at finite temperature are identified. The singular behavior at the critical endpoint along the phase boundary is carefully investigated. It is discovered that the sharp peaks appear in the second-order derivative of the field as well as the first-order derivative of the magnetization with respect to temperature on the phase boundary. Our numerical results confirm the prediction of Fisher et al. about the critical endpoint.     

Boundary Mobility and Energy Anisotropy Effects on Microstructural Evolution During Grain Growth

We have performed mesoscopic simulations of microstructural evolution during curvature driven grain growth in two-dimensions using anisotropic grain boundary properties obtained from atomistic simulations. Molecular dynamics simulations were employed to determine the energies and mobilities of grain boundaries as a function of boundary misorientation. The mesoscopic simulations were performed both with the Monte Carlo Potts model and the phase field model. The Monte Carlo Potts model and phase field model simulation predictions are in excellent agreement. While the atomistic simulations demonstrate strong anisotropies in both the boundary energy and mobility, both types of microstructural evolution simulations demonstrate that anisotropy in boundary mobility plays little role in the stochastic evolution of the microstructure (other than perhaps setting the overall rate of the evolution. On the other hand, anisotropy in the grain boundary energy strongly modifies both the topology of the polycrystalline microstructure the kinetic law that describes the temporal evolution of the mean grain size. The underlying reasons behind the strongly differing effects of the two types of anisotropy considered here can be understood based largely on geometric and topological arguments.     

Critical behavior of three-state Potts model on decagonal covering quasilattice

The three-state Potts model on a 2D decagonal covering quasilattice is investigated by means of the Monte Carlo simulation. The periodic boundary conditions are realized on a rhombus-like covering pattern. By use of the finite-size scaling analysis, we obtain the critical temperature and the critical exponents. The critical temperature is higher than that of the square lattice mainly due to the larger mean coordination number of the covering model. The critical exponents are close to the corresponding values of the 2D periodic lattices, which means that the Potts model on the covering structure may belong to the same universal class as that of the periodic lattices.     

Conformally invariant fractals and potential theory

The multifractal (MF) distribution of the electrostatic potential near any conformally invariant fractal boundary, like a critical O(N) loop or a Q-state Potts cluster, is solved in two dimensions. The dimension &fcirc;(straight theta) of the boundary set with local wedge angle straight theta is &fcirc;(straight theta) = pi / straight theta-25-c / 12 (pi-straight theta)(2) / straight theta(2pi-straight theta), with c the central charge of the model. As a corollary, the dimensions D(EP) of the external perimeter and D(H) of the hull of a Potts cluster obey the duality equation (D(EP)-1) (D(H)-1) = 1 / 4. A related covariant MF spectrum is obtained for self-avoiding walks anchored at cluster boundaries.     

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.     

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.     

Potts models and random-cluster processes with many-body interactions

Known differential inequalities for certain ferromagnetic Potts models with pair interactions may be extended to Potts models with many-body interactions. As a major application of such differential inequalities, we obtain necessary and sufficient conditions on the set of interactions of such a Potts model in order that its critical point be astrictly monotonic function of the strengths of interactions. The method yields some ancillary information concerning the equality of certain critical exponents for Potts models; this amounts to a small amount of rigorous universality. These results are achieved in the context of a Fortuin-Kasteleyn representation of Potts models with many-body interactions. For such a Potts model, the corresponding random-cluster process is a (random) hypergraph.     

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.     

Agreement percolation and phase coexistence in some Gibbs systems

We extend some relations between percolation and the dependence of Gibbs states on boundary conditions known for Ising ferromagnets to other systems and investigate their general validity: percolation is defined in terms of the agreement of a configuration with one of the ground states of the system. This extension is studied via examples and counterexamples, including the antiferromagnetic Ising and hard-core models on bipartite lattices, Potts models, and many-layered Ising and continuum Widom-Rowlinson models. In particular our results on the hard square lattice model make rigorous observations made by Hu and Mak on the basis of computer simulations. Moreover, we observe that the (naturally defined) clusters of the Widom-Rowlinson model play (for the WR model itself) the same role that the clusters of the Fortuin-Kasteleyn measure play for the ferromagnetic Potts models. The phase transition and percolation in this system can be mapped into the corresponding liquid-vapor transition of a one-component fluid.     

Potts q-color field theory and scaling random cluster model

We study structural properties of the q-color Potts field theory which, for real values of q, describes the scaling limit of the random cluster model. We show that the number of independent n-point Potts spin correlators coincides with that of independent n-point cluster connectivities and is given by generalized Bell numbers. Only a subset of these spin correlators enters the determination of the Potts magnetic properties for q integer. The structure of the operator product expansion of the spin fields for generic q is also identified. For the two-dimensional case, we analyze the duality relation between spin and kink field correlators, both for the bulk and boundary cases, obtaining in particular a sum rule for the kink-kink elastic scattering amplitudes.     

Chiral Potts model with skewed boundary conditions

We obtain the transfer matrix functional relations for the chiral Potts model with skewed boundary conditions and find that they are the same as for periodic boundary conditions, but with modified selection rules. As a start toward calculating the interfacial tension in general, we here evaluate it in a low-temperature limit, performing a Bethe-ansatz-type calculation. Finally, we specialize the relations to the superintegrable case, verifying the ansatz proposed by Albertiniet al.     

The antiferromagnetic Potts model in two dimensions: Berker-Kadanoff phase, antiferromagnetic transition, and the role of Beraha numbers

Using methods of integrable systems and conformal field theory, we study the Q-state Potts model on the square lattice with e^K real. We discover a surprisingly rich phase diagram that involves, besides the usual ferromagnetic critical line, an antiferromagnetic critical line and a Berker-Kadanoff phase (i.e., a massless low-temperature phase with coupling-independent exponents) that has singularities at the Baraha numbers (including Q integer) Q = 4cos²π/n. Critical properties are derived; we show in particular that the Q = 4cos²π/δ antiferromagnetic critical Potts model is in the “Z_δ−2” universality class with c = 2−6/δ. Extensions to other lattices are considered. We discuss the consequences of our results on the coloring problem and the Beraha conjecture. Three appendices deal with the geometrical interpretation of the Temperley-Lieb algebra and U_qsl(2) symmetry in the Potts and associated loops model, and with the vertex-Potts model correspondence in systems with free boundary conditions.     

The Dilute Potts Model on Random Surfaces

We present a new solution of the asymmetric two-matrix model in the large-N limit which only involves a saddle point analysis. The model can be interpreted as Ising in the presence of a magnetic field, on random dynamical lattices with the topology of the sphere (resp. the disk) for closed (resp. open) surfaces; we elaborate on the resulting phase diagram. The method can be equally well applied to a more general (Q+1)-matrix model which represents the dilute Potts model on random dynamical lattices. We discuss in particular duality of boundary conditions for open random surfaces.     

Numerical results for the three-state critical Potts model on finite rectangular lattices

Partition functions for the three-state critical Potts model on finite square lattices and for a variety of boundary conditions are presented. The distribution of their zeros in the complex plane of the spectral variable is examined and is compared to the expected infinite-lattice result. The partition functions are then used to test the finite-size scaling predictions of conformal and modular invariance.     

Monte Carlo investigation of the phase transition in the 2D Potts model with open boundary conditions

Finite size effects on the phase transition in the 2D Potts model with open boundary conditions are studied with Wang-Landau Monte Carlo simulations. We show the lattice size dependent cross-over from first order to continuous phase transition and discuss it in terms of surface induced disorder and size dependence of the latent heat.     

Two-Dimensional Potts Model and Annular Partitions

Using the random cluster expansion, correlations of the Potts model on a graph can be expressed as sums over partitions of the vertices where the spins are fixed. For a planar graph, only certain partitions can occur in these sums. For example, when all fixed spins lie on the boundary of one face, only noncrossing partitions contribute. In this paper we examine the partitions which occur when fixed spins lie on the boundaries of two disjoint faces. We call these the annular partitions, and we establish some of their basic properties. In particular we demonstrate a partial duality for these partitions, and show some implications for correlations of the Potts model.     

Transfer Matrix Functional Relations for the Generalized τ2 (t q ) Model

The N-state chiral Potts model in lattice statistical mechanics can be obtained as a “descendant” of the six-vertex model, via an intermediate “Q” or “τ₂ (t _q )” model. Here we generalize this to obtain a column-inhomogeneous τ₂ (t _q ) model, and derive the functional relations satisfied by its row-to-row transfer matrix. We do not need the usual chiral Potts relations between the Nth powers of the rapidity parameters a _p , b _p , c _p , d _p of each column. This enables us to readily consider the case of fixed-spin boundary conditions on the left and right-most columns. We thereby re-derive the simple direct product structure of the transfer matrix eigenvalues of this model, which is closely related to the superintegrable chiral Potts model with fixed-spin boundary conditions.