An exact solution of the renormalization-group equations for the mean field theory of stable and metastable states

Abstract

An exact solution of the renormalization-group equations corresponding to the mean field theory of stable and metastable states is given which yields the correct free energies for these states. An unusual feature of this solution is that the renormalized Hamiltonian in the two-phase region becomes a multivalued function of the order parameter for all values of the length rescaling parameter beyond a certain critical value. This is closely related to the multivaluedness of the free energy as a function of magnetic field which characterizes the classical theory of metastable and unstable states. As a consequence of this multivaluedness, the trajectory flow in the space of coupling constants exhibits unusual “bifurcation.” This leads to difficulties in evaluating the metastable and unstable free energies by a trajectory integral of the spin-independent term, which can be resolved by an extension of the standard formalism.