Critical exponents of Manhattan Hamiltonian walks in two dimensions,from Potts andO(n) models

We consider a set of Hamiltonian circuits filling a Manhattan lattice, i.e., a square lattice with alternating traffic regulation. We show that the generating function (with fugacityz) of this set is identical to the critical partition function of aq-state Potts model on an unoriented square lattice withq ^1/2 =z. The set of critical exponents governing correlations of Hamiltonian circuits is derived using a Coulomb gas technique. These exponents are also found to be those of an O(n) vector model in the low-temperature phase withn =q ^1/2 =z. The critical exponents in the limitz = 0 are then those of spanning trees (q= 0) and of dense polymers (n=0,T < T_c), corresponding to a conformal theory with central chargeC = –2. This shows that the Manhattan orientation and the Hamiltonian constraint of filling all the lattice are irrelevant for the infrared critical properties of Hamiltonian walks.