Estimating the partition function zeros by using the Wang-Landau Monte Carlo algorithm

Abstract

The concept of the partition function zeros is one of the most efficient methods for investigating the phase transitions and the critical phenomena in various physical systems. Estimating the partition function zeros requires information on the density of states Ω(E) as a function of the energy E. Currently, the Wang-Landau Monte Carlo algorithm is one of the best methods for calculating Ω(E). The partition function zeros in the complex temperature plane of the Ising model on an L × L square lattice (L = 10 ~ 80) with a periodic boundary condition have been estimated by using the Wang-Landau Monte Carlo algorithm. The efficiency of the Wang-Landau Monte Carlo algorithm and the accuracies of the partition function zeros have been evaluated for three different, 5%, 10%, and 20%, flatness criteria for the histogram H(E).