Kadanoff's lower-bound renormalization transformation

Abstract

The fixed-point topology of Kadanoff's lower-bound renormalization transformation is discussed for the $d=2$ square-lattice Ising model in the three-dimensional space of coupling constants for the nearest-neighbor, next-nearest neighbor, and four-spin interactions. An obstacle one encounters in trying to calculate a critical surface is pointed out. In the three-dimensional space of coupling constants Kadanoff's fixed point has two relevant vectors and can only be reached from a critical line, not from a critical surface. Another fixed point is reported which does have only one relevant vector and can be reached from a critical surface. Another fixed point is reported which does have only one relevant vector and can be reached from a critical surface. The critical exponents of this fixed point are close to the exact values, though not nearly so close as for Kadanoff's fixed point. The properties of both fixed points as a function of the variational parameter $p$ are described. Critical values of the nearest-neighbor couplings leading to the fixed points are compared.