Interfacial Adsorption in Two-Dimensional Potts Models

The interfacial adsorption W at the first-order transition in two-dimensional q-state Potts models is studied. In particular, findings of Monte Carlo simulations and of density-matrix renormalization group calculations at q=16 are consistent with the analytic result, obtained in the Hamiltonian limit at large values of q, that Wt^–1/3 on approach to the bulk critical temperature T_c, t=|T_c–T|/T_c. In addition, the numerical findings allow to estimate corrections to scaling. Our study supports and quantifies a previous conclusion by Bricmont and Lebowitz based on low temperature expansions.