Phase transitions in quantum spin systems with isotropic and nonisotropic interactions

We prove the existence of spontaneous magnetization at sufficiently low temperature, and hence of a phase transition, in a variety of quantum spin systems in three or more dimensions. The isotropic spin 1/2x-y model and the Heisenberg antiferromagnet with spin 1, 3/2,...and with nearest neighbor interactions on a simple cubic lattice are included.Research supported by U.S. National Science Foundation under grants GP-40768X (F.J.D.), MCS 75-21684 (E.H.L.), and GP-39048 (B.S.).Alfred Sloan Fellow.     

钻石分形晶格上Ising模型的配分函数与关联函数

用参数变换方法,研究了钻石分形晶格上Ising自旋模型.精确求解了零场和非零场中系统的配分函数、自由能和关联函数,尤其推得了关联函数方程及其渐近行为的解析形式.结果表明，其关联行为与平移对称晶格上的Ising自旋系统类似. 关键词： Ising模型 外磁场 钻石分形晶格 关联函数     

Adsorption thermodynamics of monomers on diluted-bonds triangular lattices

The surface of amorphous solids cannot be usually represented by a regular lattice of adsorbing sites. One of the main characteristics of such surfaces is a variable connectivity for each site. A simple model consisting of a triangular lattice where a fraction of bonds (interactions) is suppressed at random is used here to find out, by using Monte Carlo simulations, how the adsorption thermodynamics of repulsively interacting monomers is modified with respect to the same process in the regular lattice. Adsorption isotherm, differential heat of adsorption and adsorbed phase entropy calculations are carried out showing and interpreting the effects of the variable connectivity. In particular, it is found that the order-disorder phase transition observed for the regular lattice survives, though with modifications, above a critical mean connectivity.     

Semi-flexible compact polymers on fractal lattices

Semi-flexible compact polymers modeled by Hamiltonian walks with bending rigidity are studied on 3 and 4-simplex fractal lattices. Hamiltonian walks are weighted according to the number of bends in the walk, and total weights are obtained by an exact recursive treatment. Asymptotic form of the partition function, with temperature dependent scaling parameters, as well as the corresponding critical exponents, is determined. Various thermodynamic quantities are calculated numerically and presented graphically, and the possibility of phase transition between a compact molten globule and an ordered ‘crystal’ state is investigated. No phase transition is found on either of these two lattices, meaning that fractal geometry here prevents any kind of orientational order.     

Ising-type transitions in coupled map lattices

We study, by means of computer simulations, some models of coupled map lattices (CML) with symmetry, subject to diffusive nearest neighbor coupling, with the purpose of providing, a better understanding of the occurrence of Isingtype transitions of the type found by Miller and Huse. We argue, on the basis of numerical evidence, that such transitions are connected to the appearance of a minimum in the Lyapunov dimension of the system as a function of the coupling parameter. Two-dimensional CMLs similar to the one in Miller and Huse, but with no minimum in the Lyapunov dimension plot, have no Ising transition. The condition seems to be necessary, though by no means sufficient. We also argue, relying on the analysis of Bunimovich and Sinai, that coupled map lattices should behave differently, with respect to dimension, than Ising models.Dedicated to Yakov Grigorievich Sinai on his 60th birthday.     

Ising model on mixed two-dimensional lattices

We inform results on physical and topological magnitudes related to the ground level of Ising model on mixed two-dimensional lattices of coordination numbers 4 (Kagomé lattices) and 5 (five-point star lattices). We consider little clusters of size N, where N represents the total number of spins, subject to periodic boundary conditions. On these systems we randomly distribute ±J nearest-neighbor interactions (+J: antiferromagnetic, −J: ferromagnetic (F)). Concentration x of F interactions is varied in the interval (0,1). Two different methods are used to obtain results reported here. First, a numerical method related to multiple replicas. Second, an analytical method based on probabilistic analysis of flat and curved plaquettes. Both methods are complementary to each other. Initially, this study is restricted to calculate frustration of plaquettes and bonds, energy and bond order parameter at T=0. The results of magnitudes informed here are compared with the similar ones obtained for honeycomb, square and triangular lattices.     

Phase transitions and reflection positivity. II. Lattice systems with short-range and Coulomb interactions

We discuss applications of the abstract scheme of part I of this work, in particular of infrared bounds and chessboard estimates, to proving the existence of phase transitions in lattice systems. Included are antiferromagnets in an external field, hard-core exclusion models, classical and quantum Coulomb lattice gases, and six-vertex models.Research partially supported by Canadian National Research Council Grant A4015 and U.S. National Science Foundation Grants PHY-77-18762, MCS-75-21684-A02, and MCS-78-01885.     

Phase transition behaviors of a ferroelectric thin film with long-range interactions

Within the framework of the mean-field approximation, the transverse-field Ising model is used to investigate the surface parameter modification of interaction constants and transverse fields on phase transition behaviors of a ferroelectric thin film with long-range interactions. The variation of Curie temperature as a function of the surface transverse field for different surface interaction constants or thickness is discussed. Meanwhile, the variation of Curie temperature as a function of the surface exchange interaction for different surface transverse fields is examined. In addition, the dependence of Curie temperature on the film thickness for different surface exchange interactions and surface transverse fields is obtained.     

Multifractal magnetization on hierarchical lattices

A new approach is applied to show that the local magnetization of the ferromagnetic Ising model on hierarchical lattices has a multifractal structure at the critical point. Thef() function characterizing its multifractality is presented and discussed for the diamond hierarchical lattice. Distinct exact critical exponents for the average magnetization and for the local magnetization of the deepest sites are found. The average magnetization (as function of the temperature) is also calculated. The critical exponent of the susceptibility is estimated using finite-size scale arguments.     

Phase transitions driven by quasiparticle interactions

After a survey of the solid–liquid transition, driven by phonon–phonon interactions, attention is next focussed on two phase transitions caused by electron–phonon interactions. These are (i) the Barden–Cooper–Schrieffer pure metal superconducting transition and (ii) the original Peierls instability. These have closely similar forms for the respective transition temperatures, both being related to energy gaps. Spin–phonon interactions are then discussed in relation to spin-Peierls materials. Finally, magnon–magnon interactions are treated in the context of the ferromagnetic–paramagnetic transition in the itinerant electron systems Fe, Co and Ni. Heuristic and phenomenological arguments, plus of course experiment, provide the basis for the conclusions drawn here.     

Phase transitions and metastable states in TlGaSe2

The results of measurements of the dielectric constant of TlGaSe₂ in temperature range of successive phase transitions are presented. An anomaly in the temperature dependence of the real part of dielectric constant in TlGaSe₂ has been observed at about 242?K in addition to anomalies at 115, 108, and also near 65?K as reported in previous publications. The presence of temperature hysteresis effects in temperature interval between 115 and 242?K allowed making a conclusion about possible existence of an incommensurate phase in the mentioned temperature range. A model of succession of the structural phase transitions in TlGaSe₂ has been suggested.     

Phase transitions in polymesomorphic compounds

Summary The results of a X-ray diffraction study, performed on N(p-n-pentyloxy benzylidene)p′-n-octylaniline (50.8) and N(p-n-pentyloxy benzylidene)p′-n-decylaniline (50.10) are presented. The investigated compounds exhibit smecticB, smecticA and nematic phases in between solid and isotropic liquid phases. In addition, after a thermal cycle the 50.8 compound exhibits a smecticG phase at room temperature. The interlayer and the in-plane intermolecular distances were obtained as functions of temperature through all the mesophases. A phase coexistence has been observed during the solid to smecticB and the smecticB to smecticA phase transitions of the 50.8 compound. The nematic to smecticA phase transitions are found to be of second order for both compounds. Pretransitional effects due to cybotactic-cluster formation in the nematic region are observed.

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Riassunto Si presentano i risultati di uno studio effettuato mediante la diffrazione dei raggi X sul N(p-n-pentilossi benzilidene)p′-n-ottilanilina (50.8) e sul N(p-n-pentilossi benzilidene)p′-n-decilanilina (50.10). Tra le fasi solida ed isotropica i composti esaminati presentano le mesofasiS _B ,S _A e nematica. Inoltre, dopo un ciclo termico il composto 50.8 presenta una faseS _G a temperatura ambiente. Sono state misurate le distanze tra i piani smettici e le distanze laterali tra le molecole in tutte le mesofasi in funzione della temperatura. Una coesistenza di fase è stata osservata durante le transizioni solido →S _B eS _B →S _A del composto 50.8. Le transizioni nematico-S _A sono risultate del second'ordine per entrambi i composti. Nelle fasi nematiche sono stati osservati effetti pretransizionali dovuti alla formazione di gruppi cibotattici.

     

Absence of phase transitions in certain one-dimensional long-range random systems

An Ising chain is considered with a potential of the formJ(i, j)/|i–j|, where theJ(i, j) are independent random variables with mean zero. The chain contains both randomness and frustration, and serves to model a spin glass. A simple argument is provided to show that the system does not exhibit a phase transition at a positive temperature if>1. This is to be contrasted with a ferromagnetic interaction which requires>2. The basic idea is to prove that the surfacefree energy between two half-lines is finite, although the surface energy may be unbounded. Ford-dimensional systems, it is shown that the free energy does not depend on the specific boundary conditions if>(1/2)d.     

Phase transitions and electrical characteristics of tungsten substituted barium titanate

In the present work, phase transitions and electrical characteristics of tungsten substituted barium titanate are reported. Structural analysis of the prepared samples was carried out to confirm the formation of the compounds in proper phase. Scanning electron micrographs of the compounds have been used to investigate the grain morphology of the material. The dielectric properties of the samples have been studied as a function of temperature and frequency. The variation of dielectric constant (ε_r) with temperature shows a diffuse kind of ferro–paraelectric phase transition. The diffusitivity of the phase transitions has been calculated. Complex impedance spectroscopy analysis was carried out to investigate the electrical characteristics of the specimen.     

Mixtures of fermionic atoms with mass imbalance in optical lattices

We study ground-state properties of ultracold fermionic mixtures with strong mass imbalance in one and two-dimensional optical lattices through large scale numerical simulations of the attractive Falicov-Kimball model in harmonic confining potentials. In the one-dimensional case, we observe a formation of insulating atomic-density-wave domains at low particle fillings and a coexistence of insulating and metallic domains at intermediate and large particle fillings. Moreover, we show how the formation of metallic regions is reflected in the momentum distribution of the light atoms. In two dimensions, we find a rich spectrum of density-wave patterns including the homogeneous distributions, the axial striped distributions, the labyrinthine phases as well as the segregated phases.      

Absence of a spontaneous long-range order in a mixed spin-(1/2, 3/2) Ising model on a decorated square lattice due to anomalous spin frustration driven by a magnetoelastic coupling

The mixed spin-(1/2, 3/2) Ising model on a decorated square lattice, which takes into account lattice vibrations of the spin-3/2 decorating magnetic ions at a quantum-mechanical level under the assumption of a perfect lattice rigidity of the spin-1/2 nodal magnetic ions, is examined via an exact mapping correspondence with the effective spin-1/2 Ising model on a square lattice. Although the considered magnetic structure is in principle unfrustrated due to bipartite nature of a decorated square lattice, the model under investigation may display anomalous spin frustration driven by a magnetoelastic coupling. It turns out that the magnetoelastic coupling is a primary cause for existence of the frustrated antiferromagnetic phases, which exhibit a peculiar coexistence of antiferromagnetic long-range order of the nodal spins with a partial disorder of the decorating spins with possible reentrant critical behavior. Under certain conditions, the anomalous spin frustration caused by the magnetoelastic coupling is responsible for unprecedented absence of spontaneous long-range order in the mixed-spin Ising model composed from half-odd-integer spins only.     

Phase transitions in generalized chiral or Stiefel's models

We study the phase transition in generalized chiral or Stiefel's models using Monte Carlo simulations. These models are characterized by a breakdown of symmetry O(N)/O(N-P). We show that the phase transition is clearly first order for when P=N and P=N-1, contrary to predictions based on the renormalization group in expansion but in agreement with a recent non perturbative renormalization group approach. Received 7 October 1999     

Wetting of Alkanes on Water from a Cahn-Type Theory: Effects of Long-Range Forces

We apply the phenomenological wetting theory of Cahn to fluids with van der Waals forces, and in particular to the wetting of pentane on water. Taking into account explicitly the long-range substrate–adsorbate interaction allows us to reproduce the experimentally observed critical wetting transition, which arises from the vanishing of the Hamaker constant at T53°C. This transition is preceded by a first-order transition between a thin and a thick film at a (much) lower temperature. If long-range forces are neglected, this thin–thick transition is the only wetting transition and critical wetting is missed. Our study focuses on the development of useful theoretical tools, such as phase portraits and interface potentials adapted to systems with van der Waals forces.