Correlations in inhomogeneous Ising models

We study correlations in inhomogeneous Ising models on a square lattice. The nearest neighbour couplings are allowed to be of arbitrary strength and sign such that the coupling distribution is translationally invariant either in horizontal or in diagonal direction, i.e. the models have a layered structure. By using transfer matrix techniques the spin-spin correlations are calculated parallel to the layering and are expressed as Toeplitz determinants. After working out the general methods we discuss two special examples in detail: the fully frustrated square lattice (FFS) and the chessboard model, both having no phase transition. At zero temperature correlations in the chessboard model decay exponentially, while in the FFS model one has algebraic decay with a critical index =1/2, i.e.T=0 is a critical point. At finite temperature we find exponential decay in both models with a correlation length determined by the excitation gap in the fermion spectrum. Due to frustration correlations may develop on oscillatory structure and spins separated by an odd diagonal distance are totally uncorrelated at all temperatures.Work performed within the research program of the Sonderforschungsbereich 125 Aachen-Jülich-Köla     

Correlations in inhomogeneous Ising models

Using general methods developed in a previous treatment we study correlations in inhomogeneous Ising models on a square lattice. The nearest neighbour couplings can vary both in strength and sign such that the coupling distribution is translationally invariant in horizontal direction. We calculate correlations parallel to the layering in the horizontally layered model with periodv=2. If the model has a finite critical temperature,T _c>0, the order parameter in the frustrated case may become discontinuous forT0. Correlations atT=T _c decay algebraically with critical exponent =1/4 and exponentially forT>T _c. If the critical temperature vanishes,T _c=0, we always have exponential decay at finite temperatures, while atT=T _c=0 we encounter either long-range order or algebraic decay with critical index =1/2, i.e.T=0 is thus a critical point.Work performed within the research program of the Sonder forschungsbereich 125 Aachen-Jülich-Köln     

Layered inhomogeneous Ising models with frustration on a square lattice

Generalizing a previous treatment we study inhomogeneous Ising models on a square lattice. In particular, we consider models with a layered structure, i.e. translational invariance in the horizontal direction. Otherwise, couplings are allowed to be of arbitrary strength and sign. The partition function and free energy are calculated excatly for a random coupling distribution of finite period. The phase transition is universally of Ising type. The critical temperature can be calculated from a remarkably simple formula and depends only on the mean couplings, averaged over the period. Generally ground state properties do not reflect the singular structure of the free energy at finite temperature. This is shown by a special example.Work performed within the research program of the Sonder-forschungsbereich 125 Aachen-Jülich-Köln     

Correlations in Ising ferromagnets. III

An inequality relating binary correlation functions for an Ising model with purely ferromagnetic interactions is derived by elementary arguments and used to show that such a ferromagnet cannot exhibit a spontaneous magnetization at temperatures above the mean-field approximation to the Curie or critical point. (As a consequence, the corresponding lattice gas cannot undergo a first order phase transition in density (condensation) above this temperature.) The mean-field susceptibility in zero magnetic field at high temperatures is shown to be an upper bound for the exact result.Research supported in part by the National Science Foundation. Alfred P. Sloan research fellow.     

Ising Correlations and Elliptic Determinants

Correlation functions of the two-dimensional Ising model on the periodic lattice can be expressed in terms of form factors—matrix elements of the spin operator in the basis of common eigenstates of the transfer matrix and translation operator. Free-fermion structure of the model implies that any multiparticle form factor is given by the pfaffian of a matrix constructed from the two-particle ones. Crossed two-particle form factors can be obtained by inverting a block of the matrix of linear transformation induced on fermions by the spin conjugation. We show that the corresponding matrix is of elliptic Cauchy type and use this observation to solve the inversion problem explicitly. Non-crossed two-particle form factors are then obtained using theta functional interpolation formulas. This gives a new simple proof of the factorized formulas for periodic Ising form factors, conjectured by A. Bugrij and one of the authors.     

One-dimensional inhomogeneous Ising model: A new approach

We present a new method for the study of a one-dimensional inhomogeneous Ising chain with nonconstant nearest neighbor interactions. The external field required to produce a given magnetization profile is derived exactly. Some properties of the pair direct correlation function are derived. Our findings generalize previous results of Percus.     

New collective modes of interaction nature in inhomogeneous Ising networks

We propose a vertex formulation of the Ising model with inhomogeneous external field on multiconnected networks possessing a superbond structure. The related technique based on gauge degrees of freedom enables us to recognize new collective modes of interaction nature, which provide an exact solution of the inverse profile problem and an explicit form of a local free-energy functional on an extended magnetization-mode space. Application is made to a square strip.     

Dynamics in quantum Ising chain driven by inhomogeneous transverse magnetization

We study the dynamics caused by transport of transverse magnetization in one dimensional transverse Ising chain at zero temperature. We observe that a class of initial states having product structure in fermionic momentum-space and satisfying certain criteria, produce spatial variation in transverse magnetization. Starting from such a state, we obtain the transverse magnetization analytically and then observe its dynamics in presence of a homogeneous constant field Γ. In contradiction with general expectation, whatever be the strength of the field, the magnetization of the system does not become homogeneous even after infinite time. At each site, the dynamics is associated with oscillations having two different timescales. The envelope of the larger timescale oscillation decays algebraically with an exponent which is invariant for all such special initial states. The frequency of this oscillation varies differently with external field in ordered and disordered phases. The local magnetization after infinite time also characterizes the quantum phase transition.     

Metastable Ising models in crumpled geometries

Ising models on tangled chains or crumpled surfaces are studied. The crumpling (tangling) action brings into proximity otherwise distant parts of the original lattice and thus adds additional bonds between the spins across the surface (chain). The task in building a model is then to decide where to let the surface (chain) touch itself and what kinds of bonds to be added there across the surface (chain). We study those models which are most likely to result in metastable and history-dependent behavior. A model of a tangled chain is shown to have free energy barriers. The consequent metastable states lead to a non-uniform effective temperature in the Gibbs average. Ising models on crumpled or folded surface are studied with a varying degree of crumpling and varying heights of energy barriers. An unusual behavior is observed near the threshold of vanishing metastability.     

Metastable states in homogeneous Ising models

Metastable states of homogeneous 2D and 3D Ising models are studied under free boundary conditions. The states are defined in terms of weak and strict local minima of the total interaction energy. The morphology of these minima is characterized locally and globally on square and cubic grids. Furthermore, in the 2D case, transition from any spin configuration that is not a strict minimum to a strict minimum is possible via non-energy-increasing single flips.     

Elastic anomalies in compressible Ising models

The renormalization-group-study indications of critical elastic anomalies (softening) inducing first order transitions in compressible Ising systems are examined here and are compared with the results obtained by employing other methods. The indications are concluded to be spurious.     

Corner transfer matrix study of an inhomogeneous Ising model

We consider a planar Ising model with an extended defect described by couplings of the form K(r) = K·(1 + A/r). We determine the spectrum of the corner transfer matrix numerically and analytically and use it to calculate the local magnetization at the defect and the corresponding, non-universal critical exponent.     

Ising models on hyperbolic graphs

We consider Ising models on a hyperbolic graph which, loosely speaking, is a discretization of the hyperbolic planeH ² in the same sense asZ ^d is a discretization ofR ^d . We prove that the models exhibit multiple phase transitions. Analogous results for Potts models can be obtained in the same way.     

Universality classes of Ising models

We discuss a transformation of Ising spins which maps a d-dimentional Ising problem into a series of different problems in the same universality class.     

Critical temperatures of Ising models

A general and simple method for calculating critical points of two-dimensional Ising models is presented. As an example we derive Utiyama's critical relation for the generalized square lattice.     

Self-similar potentials and Ising models

A new link between soliton solutions of integrable nonlinear equations and one-dimensional Ising models is established. Translational invariance of the spin lattice associated with the KdV equation is related to self-similar potentials of the Schrödinger equation. This gives antiferromagnets with exponentially decaying interaction between the spins. The partition function is calculated exactly for a uniform magnetic field and two discrete values of the temperature.     

Magnetization at corners in two-dimensional Ising models

We investigate the corner spin magnetization of two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising models in various wedge geometries. Results are obtained for triangular and square lattices by numerical studies on finite wedges using the star-triangle transformation, as well as analytic calculations using corner transfer matrices and a fermionic representation of the row-to-row transfer matrix. The corner magnetizations vanish at the bulk critical temperature T_c with an exponent _c differing from the bulk exponent. For isotropic systems with free edges we find that _c is given simply by _c =/2, where is the angle at the corner. For apex magnetizations of conical lattices we obtain the strikingly similar result _a=/4. These formulas apply equally well to anisotropic lattices if the angle is interpreted as an effective angle, ^eff, determined by the relative strengths of the interactions.     

Nucleation and metastability in three-dimensional Ising models

We present Monte Carlo experiments on nucleation theory in the nearest-neighbor three-dimensional Ising model and in Ising models with long-range interactions. For the nearest-neighbor model, our results are compatible with the classical nucleation theory (CNT) for low temperatures, while for the long-range model a breakdown of the CNT was observed near the mean-field spinodal. A new droplet model and a zeroth-order theory of droplet growth are also presented.Supported in part by grants from ARO, ONR, and NSF.