Critical phenomena in a disc-percolation model and their application to relativistic heavy ion collisions

By studying the critical phenomena in continuum-percolation of discs, we find a new approach to locate the critical point, i.e.using the inflection point of P_∞ as an evaluation of the percolation threshold.The susceptibility, defined as the derivative of P_∞, possesses a finite-size scaling property, where the scaling exponent is the reciprocal of ν, the critical exponent of the correlation length.A possible application of this approach to the study of the critical phenomena in relativistic heavy ion collisions is discussed.The critical point for deconfinement can be extracted by the inflection point of P_(QGP)-the probability for the event with QGP formation.The finite-size scaling of its derivative can give the critical exponent ν, which is a rare case that can provide an experimental measure of a critical exponent in heavy ion collisions.     

Anderson transition in two-dimensional systems with spin-orbit coupling

We report a numerical investigation of the Anderson transition in two-dimensional systems with spin-orbit coupling. An accurate estimate of the critical exponent nu for the divergence of the localization length in this universality class has to our knowledge not been reported in the literature. Here we analyze the SU(2) model. We find that for this model corrections to scaling due to irrelevant scaling variables may be neglected permitting an accurate estimate of the exponent nu=2.73+/-0.02.     

Scaling in nature: from DNA through heartbeats to weather.

The purpose of this report is to describe some recent progress in applying scaling concepts to various systems in nature. We review several systems characterized by scaling laws such as DNA sequences, heartbeat rates and weather variations. We discuss the finding that the exponent alpha quantifying the scaling in DNA in smaller for coding than for noncoding sequences. We also discuss the application of fractal scaling analysis to the dynamics of heartbeat regulation, and report the recent finding that the scaling exponent alpha is smaller during sleep periods compared to wake periods. We also discuss the recent findings that suggest a universal scaling exponent characterizing the weather fluctuations.     

The Universality of the Critical Dynamics of the Kinetic Ising Model on the Regular Fractals

The form of the universal scaling law of the critical dynamic exponent, z = D_ƒ + 2/υ, is found on a family of regular fractals by the exact TDRG method. Here, we generate a regular fractal by an anisotropic growing process. Identifying the growing probabilities as the interactions between Ising spins on the fractals, we map the growing probability clouds as a group of the anisotropic Ising Hamiltonians. Applying the RG transformations, we find that the systems of this group of Ising Hamiltonians can be described by two universal static correlation exponents υ₀ = ∞ and υ = 1. So, the growing processes proposed by us capture the essential features in the directed DLA simulations. The studies about their critical dynamic behaviours reveal that unlike the one-dimensional chain the critical dynamics of the kinetic Ising model on the regular fractals is universal. The further discussions show that there is a universal scaling law form of the critical dynamic exponent of the kinetic Ising model, z = D_ƒ + R_max/2υ, on the site models of the regular fractals with R_min = 2. Meanwhile, we discuss Daniel Kandal's correction to the formula of the,critical dynamic exponent in the TDRG method and show that our TDRG calculations are exact.     

Numerical study of the localization length critical index in a network model of plateau-plateau transitions in the quantum Hall effect

We calculate numerically the localization length critical index within the Chalker-Coddington model of the plateau-plateau transitions in the quantum Hall effect. We report a finite-size scaling analysis using both the traditional power-law corrections to the scaling function and the inverse logarithmic ones, which provided a more stable fit resulting in the localization length critical index ν = 2.616 ± 0.014. We observe an increase of the critical exponent ν with the system size, which is possibly the origin of discrepancies with early results obtained for smaller systems.     

GENERALIZED SCALING LAWS IN THRESHOLD PKENOMENA OF NON-EQUILIBRIUM SYSTEMS

A general discussion on threshold phenomena, namely exponent behaviors of abrupt transitions between steady states near a threshold for a non-equilibrium system satisfying potential condition and having the arbitrary values of z and c, both characteristic parameters of the system, is given. It is shown that the scaling hypothesis in general homogeneous function form holds for threshold phenomena. The expressions of the threshold exponents,β,δ,γ^′ and α^′of the threshold amplitudes, B, D, Γ^′ and A^′,and the generalized scaling laws obeyed by them are all obtained. These Iaws reduce to the same as the scaling laws in critical phenomena when z=c=1.The results support, in respect of exponent behaviors of transitions, the statement on the great similarity between the phase transitions in equilibrium systems and the abrupt transitions of steady states in non-equilibrium systems.     

Phase and vortex correlations in superconducting Josephson-junction arrays at irrational magnetic frustration

Phase coherence and vortex order in a Josephson-junction array at irrational frustration are studied by extensive Monte Carlo simulations using the parallel-tempering method. A scaling analysis of the correlation length of phase variables in the full equilibrated system shows that the critical temperature vanishes with a power-law divergent correlation length and critical exponent nuph, in agreement with recent results from resistivity scaling analysis. A similar scaling analysis for vortex variables reveals a different critical exponent nuv, suggesting that there are two distinct correlation lengths associated with a decoupled zero-temperature phase transition.     

Bifurcation of Dicke Model Driven by Laser Field and Scaling Theory of Critical Exponents Far from Equilibrium

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Exotic versus conventional scaling and universality in a disordered bilayer quantum heisenberg antiferromagnet

We present Monte Carlo simulations of a two-dimensional bilayer quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet with random dimer dilution. In contrast with exotic scaling scenarios found in other random quantum systems, the quantum phase transition in this system is characterized by a finite-disorder fixed point with power-law scaling. After accounting for corrections to scaling, with a leading irrelevant exponent of omega approximately 0.48, we find universal critical exponents z=1.310(6) and nu=1.16(3). We discuss the consequences of these findings and suggest new experiments.     

Short-time dynamic behaviour of critical XY systems

Using Monte Carlo methods, the short-time dynamic scaling behaviour of two-dimensional critical XY systems is investigated. Our results for the XY model show that there exists universal scaling behaviour already in the short-time regime, but the values of the dynamic exponent z differ for different initial conditions. For the fully frustrated XY model, power law scaling behaviour is also observed in the short-time regime. However, a violation of the standard scaling relation between the exponents is detected.     

On the zero temperature critical point in heavy fermions

We generalize the scaling theory of heavy fermions for the case the shift exponent describing the critical Néel line is different from the crossover exponent characterizing the coherence line. We obtain the properties of the non-Fermi liquid system at the critical point and in particular the electrical resistivity. We study violation of hyperscaling in the Fermi liquid regime below the coherence line where the properties of heavy fermion systems are described by mean-field exponents.     

Microrheology of the liquid-solid transition during gelation

The viscoelastic properties of physical and chemical polymer gels are characterized through the liquid-solid transition using particle tracking microrheology. Measurements of the probe particle mean-squared displacement are shifted as the extent of gelation increases to generate master curves. From the shift factors, we determine the gel point and critical scaling exponents. Both systems exhibit a critical relaxation exponent n approximately 0.6, where G' approximately G' approximately omega n for the incipient gel, consistent with the Rouse model of dynamic scaling in the percolation universality class.     

A random field model for anomalous diffusion in heterogeneous porous media

Heterogeneity, as it occurs in porous media, is characterized in terms of a scaling exponent, or fractal dimension. A feature of primary interest for two-phase flow is the mixing length. This paper determines the relation between the scaling exponent for the heterogeneity and the scaling exponent which governs the mixing length. The analysis assumes a linear transport equation and uses random fields first in the characterization of the heterogeneity and second in the solution of the flow problem, in order to determine the mixing exponents. The scaling behavior changes from long-length-scale dominated to short-length-scale dominated at a critical value of the scaling exponent of the rock heterogeneity. The long-length-scale-dominated diffusion is anomalous.     

New approach to Gutenberg-Richter scaling

We introduce a new model for an earthquake fault system that is composed of noninteracting simple lattice models with different levels of damage denoted by q. The undamaged lattice models (q=0) have Gutenberg-Richter scaling with a cumulative exponent β=1/2, whereas the damaged models do not have well defined scaling. However, if we consider the "fault system" consisting of all models, damaged and undamaged, we get excellent scaling with the exponent depending on the relative frequency with which faults with a particular amount of damage occur in the fault system. This paradigm combines the idea that Gutenberg-Richter scaling is associated with an underlying critical point with the notion that the structure of a fault system also affects the statistical distribution of earthquakes. In addition, it provides a framework in which the variation, from one tectonic region to another, of the scaling exponent, or b value, can be understood.     

Critical exponent crossovers in escape near a bifurcation point

In periodically driven systems, near a bifurcation (critical) point the period-averaged escape rate Wmacr; scales with the field amplitude A as |ln(Wmacr;| proportional, variant (A(c)-A)(xi), where A(c) is a critical amplitude. We find three scaling regions. With increasing field frequency or decreasing |A(c)-A|, the critical exponent xi changes from xi=3/2 for a stationary system to a dynamical value xi=2 and then again to xi=3/2. Monte Carlo simulations agree with the scaling theory.     

On self-organised criticality in one dimension

In critical phenomena, many of the characteristic features encountered in higher dimensions such as scaling, data collapse and associated critical exponents are also present in one dimension. Likewise for systems displaying self-organised criticality. We show that the one-dimensional Bak–Tang–Wiesenfeld sandpile model, although trivial, does indeed fall into the general framework of self-organised criticality. We also investigate the Oslo ricepile model, driven by adding slope units at the boundary or in the bulk. We determine the critical exponents by measuring the scaling of the kth moment of the avalanche size probability with system size. The avalanche size exponent depends on the type of drive but the avalanche dimension remains constant.     

Fluctuations and simple chaotic dynamics

We describe the effects of fluctuations on the period-doubling bifurcation to chaos. We study the dynamics of maps of the interval in the absence of noise and numerically verify the scaling behavior of the Lyapunov characteristic exponent near the transition to chaos. As previously shown, fluctuations produce a gap in the period-doubling bifurcation sequence. We show that this implies a scaling behavior for the chaotic threshold and determine the associated critical exponent. By considering fluctuations as a disordering field on the deterministic dynamics, we obtain scaling relations between various critical exponents relating the effect of noise on the Lyapunov characteristic exponent. A rule is developed to explain the effects of additive noise at fixed parameter value from the deterministic dynamics at nearby parameter values.     

Critical Behaviors and Finite-Size Scaling of Principal Fluctuation Modes in Complex Systems

Complex systems consisting of N agents can be investigated from the aspect of principal fluctuation modes of agents. From the correlations between agents, an N×N correlation matrix C can be obtained. The principal fluctuation modes are defined by the eigenvectors of C. Near the critical point of a complex system, we anticipate that the principal fluctuation modes have the critical behaviors similar to that of the susceptibity. With the Ising model on a two-dimensional square lattice as an example, the critical behaviors of principal fluctuation modes have been studied. The eigenvalues of the first 9 principal fluctuation modes have been invesitigated. Our Monte Carlo data demonstrate that these eigenvalues of the system with size L and the reduced temperature t follow a finite-size scaling form λ_n(L, t)=L^γ/ν f_n(tL^1/ν), where γ is critical exponent of susceptibility and ν is the critical exponent of the correlation length. Using eigenvalues λ₁, λ₂ and λ₆, we get the finite-size scaling form of the second moment correlation length ξ(L, t)=Lξ(tL^1/ν). It is shown that the second moment correlation length in the two-dimensional square lattice is anisotropic.     

Efficient method of finding scaling exponents from finite-size Monte-Carlo simulations

Monte-Carlo simulations are routinely used for estimating the scaling exponents of complex systems. However, due to finite-size effects, determining the exponent values is often difficult and not reliable. Here, we present a novel technique of dealing with the problem of finite-size scaling. This new method allows not only to decrease the uncertainties of the scaling exponents, but makes it also possible to determine the exponents of the asymptotic corrections to the scaling laws. The efficiency of the technique is demonstrated by finding the scaling exponent of uncorrelated percolation cluster hulls.     

Scaling law and critical exponent for α0 at the 3D Anderson transition

We use high‐precision, large system‐size wave function data to analyse the scaling properties of the multifractal spectra around the disorder‐induced three‐dimensional Anderson transition in order to extract the critical exponents of the transition. Using a previously suggested scaling law, we find that the critical exponent ν is significantly larger than suggested by previous results. We speculate that this discrepancy is due to the use of an oversimplified scaling relation.