Finite-size Scaling Functions Research Articles

Finite size scaling functions of the phase transition in the ferromagnetic Ising model on random regular graphs

We discuss the finite-size scaling of the ferromagnetic Ising model on random regular graphs. These graphs are locally tree-like, and in the limit of large graphs, the Bethe approximation gives the exact free energy per site. In the thermodynamic limit, the Ising model on these graphs show a phase transition. This transition is rounded off for finite graphs. We verify the scaling theory prediction that this rounding off is described in terms of the scaling variable [T/T c − 1]S 1/2 (where T and T c are the temperature and the critical temperature respectively, and S is the number of sites in the graph), and not in terms of a power of the diameter of the graph, which varies as log S. We determine the theoretical scaling functions for the specific heat capacity and the magnetic susceptibility of the absolute value of the magnetization in closed form and compare them to Monte Carlo simulations.

Universal finite-size scaling function for coarsening in the Potts model with conserved dynamics

We study kinetics of phase segregation in multicomponent mixtures via Monte Carlo simulations of the q-state Potts model, in two spatial dimensions, for 2 ≤ q ≤ 20. The associated growth of domains in finite boxes, irrespective of q and temperature, can be described by a single universal finite-size scaling function, with only the introduction of a nonuniversal metric factor in the scaling variable. Our results show that although the scaling function is independent of the type of transition, the q-dependence of the metric factor hints to a crossover at q = 5 where the type of transition in the model changes from second to first order.

The square lattice Ising model on the rectangle III: Hankel and Toeplitz determinants

Based on the results obtained in (Hucht 2017 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor. 50 065201), we show that the partition function of the anisotropic square lattice Ising model on the L × M rectangle, with open boundary conditions in both directions, is given by the determinant of an M/2 × M/2 Hankel matrix, that equivalently can be written as the Pfaffian of a skew-symmetric M × M Toeplitz matrix. The M − 1 independent matrix elements of both matrices are Fourier coefficients of a certain symbol function, which is given by the ratio of two characteristic polynomials. These polynomials are associated to the different directions of the system, encode the respective boundary conditions, and are directly related through the symmetry of the considered Ising model under exchange of the two directions. The results can be generalized to other boundary conditions and are well suited for the analysis of finite-size scaling functions in the critical scaling limit using Szegő’s theorem.

Exact Critical Casimir Amplitude of Anisotropic Systems from Conformal Field Theory and Self-Similarity of Finite-Size Scaling Functions in d≥2 Dimensions.

The exact critical Casimir amplitude is derived for anisotropic systems within the d=2 Ising universality class by combining conformal field theory with anisotropic φ^{4} theory. Explicit results are presented for the general anisotropic scalar φ^{4} model and for the fully anisotropic triangular-lattice Ising model in finite rectangular and infinite strip geometries with periodic boundary conditions. These results demonstrate the validity of multiparameter universality for confined anisotropic systems and the nonuniversality of the critical Casimir amplitude. We find an unexpected complex form of self-similarity of the anisotropy effects near the instability where weak anisotropy breaks down. This can be traced back to the property of modular invariance of isotropic conformal field theory for d=2. More generally, for d>2 we predict the existence of self-similar structures of the finite-size scaling functions of O(n)-symmetric systems with planar anisotropies and periodic boundary conditions both in the critical region for n≥1 as well as in the Goldstone-dominated low-temperature region for n≥2.

Binary-state dynamics on complex networks: Stochastic pair approximation and beyond

Theoretical approaches to binary-state models on complex networks are generally restricted to infinite size systems, where a set of non-linear deterministic equations is assumed to characterize its dynamics and stationary properties. We develop in this work the stochastic formalism of the different compartmental approaches, these are: approximate master equation (AME), pair approximation (PA) and heterogeneous mean field (HMF), in descending order of accuracy. Using different system-size expansions of a general master equation, we are able to obtain approximate solutions of the fluctuations and finite-size corrections of the global state. On the one hand, far from criticality, the deviations from the deterministic solution are well captured by a Gaussian distribution whose properties we derive, including its correlation matrix and corrections to the average values. On the other hand, close to a critical point there are non-Gaussian statistical features that can be described by the finite-size scaling functions of the models. We show how to obtain the scaling functions departing only from the theory of the different approximations. We apply the techniques for a wide variety of binary-state models in different contexts, such as epidemic, opinion and ferromagnetic models.

Finite-size scaling at a topological transition: Bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain

We consider a finite size scaling function across a topological phase transition in 1D models. For models of non-interacting fermions it was shown to be universal for all topological symmetry classes and markedly asymmetric between trivial and topological sides of the transition (Gulden et al 2016). Here we verify its universality for the topological transition between dimerized and Haldane phases in bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain. To this end we perform high-accuracy variational matrix product state simulations. We show that the scaling function, expressed in terms of $L/\xi$, where $L$ is the chain length and $\xi$ is the correlation length, coincides with that of three species of non-interacting massive Majorana fermions. The latter is known to be a proper description of the conformal critical theory with central charge $c=3/2$. We have shown that it still holds away from the conformal point, including the finite size corrections. We have also observed peculiar differences between even and odd size chains, which may be fully accounted for by residual interactions of the edge states.

Universal finite-size scaling around tricriticality between topologically ordered, symmetry-protected topological, and trivial phases

A quantum tricritical point is shown to exists in coupled time-reversal symmetry (TRS) broken Majorana chains. The tricriticality separates topologically ordered, symmetry protected topological (SPT), and trivial phases of the system. Here we demonstrate that the breaking of the TRS manifests itself in an emergence of a new dimensionless scale, $g = \alpha(\xi) B \sqrt{N}$, where $N$ is the system size, $B$ is a generic TRS breaking field, and $\alpha(\xi)$, with $\alpha(0)\equiv 1$, is a model-dependent function of the localization length, $\xi$, of boundary Majorana zero modes at the tricriticality. This scale determines the scaling of the finite size corrections around the tricriticality, which are shown to be {\it universal}, and independent of the nature of the breaking of the TRS. We show that the single variable scaling function, $f(w)$, $w\propto m N$, where $m$ is the excitation gap, that defines finite-size corrections to the ground state energy of the system around topological phase transition at $B=0$, becomes double-scaling, $f=f(w,g)$, at finite $B$. We realize TRS breaking through three different methods with completely different lattice details and find the same universal behavior of $f(w,g)$. In the critical regime, $m=0$, the function $f(0,g)$ is nonmonotonic, and reproduces the Ising conformal field theory scaling only in limits $g=0$ and $g\rightarrow \infty$. The obtained result sets a scale of $N \gg 1/(\alpha B)^2$ for the system to reach the thermodynamic limit in the presence of the TRS breaking. We derive the effective low-energy theory describing the tricriticality and analytically find the asymptotic behavior of the finite-size scaling function. Our results show that the boundary entropy around the tricriticality is also a universal function of $g$ at $m=0$.

Scaling relations and finite-size scaling in gravitationally correlated lattice percolation models

In some systems, the connecting probability (and thus the percolation process) between two sites depends on the geometric distance between them. To understand such process, we propose gravitationally correlated percolation models for link-adding networks on the two-dimensional lattice G with two strategies Smax and Smin, to add a link li,j to connect site i and site j with mass mi and mj, respectively; mi and mj are sizes of the clusters which contain site i and site j, respectively. The probability to add the link li,j is related to the generalized gravity gij≡mimj/rijd, where rij is the geometric distance between i and j, and d is an adjustable decaying exponent. In the beginning of the simulation, all sites of G are occupied and there is no link. In the simulation process, two inter-cluster links li,j and lk,n are randomly chosen and the generalized gravities gij and gkn are computed. In the strategy Smax, the link with larger generalized gravity is added. In the strategy Smin, the link with smaller generalized gravity is added, which include percolation on the Erdös-Rényi random graph and the Achlioptas process of explosive percolation as the limiting cases, d → ∞ and d → 0, respectively. Adjustable strategies facilitate or inhibit the network percolation in a generic view. We calculate percolation thresholds Tc and critical exponents β by numerical simulations. We also obtain various finite-size scaling functions for the node fractions in percolating clusters or arrival of saturation length with different intervening strategies.

Investigation of the Finite Size Properties of the Ising Model Under Various Boundary Conditions

Abstract The one-dimensional Ising model with various boundary conditions is considered. Exact expressions for the thermodynamic and magnetic properties of the model using different kinds of boundary conditions [Dirichlet (D), Neumann (N), and a combination of Neumann–Dirichlet (ND)] are presented in the absence (presence) of a magnetic field. The finite-size scaling functions for internal energy, heat capacity, entropy, magnetisation, and magnetic susceptibility are derived and analysed as function of the temperature and the field. We show that the properties of the one-dimensional Ising model is affected by the finite size of the system and the imposed boundary conditions. The thermodynamic limit in which the finite-size functions approach the bulk case is also discussed.

Criticality senses topology

We numerically investigate the Ising model near quasi-criticality on finite two-dimensional (2D) manifolds formed by triangular and square lattices which exhibit the topology of the surface of a sphere, the projective plane, the torus, and the Klein bottle. We find that the finite-size scaling function of the magnetic susceptibility is the same for the surface of the torus and of the Klein bottle (Euler's characteristic 0 for both of them) but differs from the one for the projective plane (Euler's characteristic 1) and for the surface of the sphere (Euler's characteristic 2). This indicates that the universal properties of the continuous order-disorder phase transition in the Ising model for 2D manifolds depend on their topology.

Anisotropic scaling of the two-dimensional Ising model I: the torus

We present detailed calculations for the partition function and the free energy of the finite two-dimensional square lattice Ising model with periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions, variable aspect ratio, and anisotropic couplings, as well as for the corresponding universal free energy finite-size scaling functions. Therefore, we review the dimer mapping, as well as the interplay between its topology and the different types of boundary conditions. As a central result, we show how both the finite system as well as the scaling form decay into contributions for the bulk, a characteristic finite-size part, and – if present – the surface tension, which emerges due to at least one antiperiodic boundary in the system. For the scaling limit we extend the proper finite-size scaling theory to the anisotropic case and show how this anisotropy can be absorbed into suitable scaling variables.

Universal finite-size scaling function for kinetics of phase separation in mixtures with varying number of components

From Kawasaki-exchange Monte Carlo simulations of the $q$-state Potts model, we present results for the kinetics of phase separation in multicomponent mixtures, for $q\ensuremath{\le}10$, in space dimension $d=2$. A particular focus has been on the quantification of finite-size scaling functions for various values of $q$ and quench depths. For a range of final quench temperatures, our analyses, via finite-size scaling and other state-of-the-art methods, show that the growth follows the Lifshitz-Slyozov behavior, expected for a diffusive mechanism, irrespective of the number of components. We show that the growth for different $q$ values and quench temperatures, in finite systems, can be described by a universal scaling function with a nonuniversal metric factor, originating from the differences in the amplitudes. We also demonstrate the morphological and kinetic equivalence between a $q$-component equal proportion mixture and an off-critical binary mixture, in the framework of the Ising model, with relative concentration of the minority component in the latter being ${x}_{c}=1/q$.

Coarsening and aging of lattice polymers: Influence of bond fluctuations.

We present results for the nonequilibrium dynamics of collapse for a model flexible homopolymer on simple cubic lattices with fixed and fluctuating bonds between the monomers. Results from our Monte Carlo simulations show that, phenomenologically, the sequence of events observed during the collapse are independent of the bond criterion. While the growth of the clusters (of monomers) at different temperatures exhibits a non-universal power-law behavior when the bonds are fixed, the introduction of fluctuations in the bonds by considering the existence of diagonal bonds produces a temperature independent growth, which can be described by a universal nonequilibrium finite-size scaling function with a non-universal metric factor. We also examine the related aging phenomenon, probed by a suitable two-time density-density autocorrelation function showing a simple power-law scaling with respect to the growing cluster size. Unlike the cluster-growth exponent αc, the nonequilibrium autocorrelation exponent λC governing the aging during the collapse, however, is independent of the bond type and strictly follows the bounds proposed by Majumder and Janke [Phys. Rev. E 93, 032506 (2016)] at all temperatures.

One-dimensional irreversible aggregation with dynamics of a totally asymmetric simple exclusion process.

We define and study one-dimensional model of irreversible aggregation of particles obeying a discrete-time kinetics, which is a special limit of the generalized Totally Asymmetric Simple Exclusion Process (gTASEP) on open chains. The model allows for clusters of particles to translate as a whole entity one site to the right with the same probability as single particles do. A particle and a cluster, as well as two clusters, irreversibly aggregate whenever they become nearest neighbors. Nonequilibrium stationary phases appear under the balance of injection and ejection of particles. By extensive Monte Carlo simulations it is established that the phase diagram in the plane of the injection-ejection probabilities consists of three stationary phases: a multiparticle (MP) one, a completely filled (CF) phase, and a "mixed" (MP+CF) one. The transitions between these phases are: an unusual transition between MP and CF with jump discontinuity in both the bulk density and the current, a conventional first-order transition with a jump in the bulk density between MP and MP+CF, and a continuous clustering-type transition from MP to CF, which takes place throughout the MP+CF phase between them. By the data collapse method a finite-size scaling function for the current and bulk density is obtained near the unusual phase transition line. A diverging correlation length, associated with that transition, is identified and interpreted as the size of the largest cluster. The model allows for a future extension to account for possible cluster fragmentation.

Fokker-Planck formalism approach to Kibble-Zurek scaling laws and nonequilibrium dynamics

We study the non-equilibrium dynamics of second-order phase transitions in a simplified Ginzburg-Landau model using the Fokker-Planck formalism. In particular, we focus on deriving the Kibble-Zurek scaling laws that dictate the dependence of spatial correlations on the quench rate. In the limiting cases of overdamped and underdamped dynamics, the Fokker-Planck method confirms the theoretical predictions of the Kibble-Zurek scaling theory. The developed framework is computationally efficient, enables the prediction of finite-size scaling functions and is applicable to microscopic models as well as their hydrodynamic approximations. We demonstrate this extended range of applicability by analyzing the non-equilibrium linear to zigzag structural phase transition in ion Coulomb crystals confined in a trap with periodic boundary conditions.

Kinetics of polymer collapse: effect of temperature on cluster growth and aging.

Using state of the art Monte Carlo simulations of a bead-spring model we investigate both the equilibrium and the nonequilibrium behavior of the homopolymer collapse. The equilibrium properties obtained via multicanonical sampling recover the well-known finite-size scaling behavior of collapse for our model polymer. For the nonequilibrium dynamics we study the collapse by quenching the homopolymer from an expanded coiled state into the globular phase. The sequence of events observed during the collapse is independent of the quench depth. In particular, we focus on finding out universal scaling behaviors related to the growth or coarsening of clusters of monomers, by drawing phenomenological analogies with ordering kinetics. We distinguish the cluster coarsening stage from the initial stage of primary cluster formation. By successful application of a nonequilibrium finite-size scaling analysis we show that at all quench temperatures, during the coarsening stage, the cluster growth is roughly linear and can be characterised by a universal finite-size scaling function. In addition, we provide evidence of aging by constructing a suitable autocorrelation function and its corresponding dynamical power-law scaling with respect to the growing cluster sizes. The predicted theoretical bound for the exponent governing such scaling is strictly obeyed by the numerical data irrespective of the quench temperature. The results and methods presented here in general should find application in similar phenomena such as the collapse of a protein molecule preceding its folding.

Finite-size corrections and scaling for the dimer model on the checkerboard lattice.

Lattice models are useful for understanding behaviors of interacting complex many-body systems. The lattice dimer model has been proposed to study the adsorption of diatomic molecules on a substrate. Here weanalyzethe partition function of the dimer model on a 2M×2N checkerboard lattice wrapped on a torus and derivetheexact asymptotic expansion of the logarithm of the partition function. We find that the internal energy at the critical point is equal to zero. We also derive the exact finite-size corrections for the free energy, the internal energy, and the specific heat. Using the exact partition function and finite-size corrections for the dimer model on a finite checkerboard lattice, we obtain finite-size scaling functions for the free energy, the internal energy, and the specific heat of the dimer model. We investigate the properties of the specific heat near the critical point and find that the specific-heat pseudocritical point coincides with the critical point of the thermodynamic limit, which means that the specific-heat shift exponent λ is equal to ∞. We have also considered the limit N→∞ for which we obtain the expansion of the free energy for the dimer model on the infinitely long cylinder. From a finite-size analysis we have found that two conformal field theories with the central charges c=1 for the height function description and c=-2 for the construction using a mapping of spanning trees can be used to describe the dimer model on the checkerboard lattice.

Finite-size critical scaling in Ising spin glasses in the mean-field regime.

We study in Ising spin glasses the finite-size effects near the spin-glass transition in zero field and at the de Almeida-Thouless transition in a field by Monte Carlo methods and by analytical approximations. In zero field, the finite-size scaling function associated with the spin-glass susceptibility of the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick mean-field spin-glass model is of the same form as that of one-dimensional spin-glass models with power-law long-range interactions in the regime where they can be a proxy for the Edwards-Anderson short-range spin-glass model above the upper critical dimension. We also calculate a simple analytical approximation for the spin-glass susceptibility crossover function. The behavior of the spin-glass susceptibility near the de Almeida-Thouless transition line has also been studied, but here we have only been able to obtain analytically its behavior in the asymptotic limit above and below the transition. We have also simulated the one-dimensional system in a field in the non-mean-field regime to illustrate that when the Imry-Ma droplet length scale exceeds the system size one can then be erroneously lead to conclude that there is a de Almeida-Thouless transition even though it is absent.

Influence of the aspect ratio and boundary conditions on universal finite-size scaling functions in the athermal metastable two-dimensional random field Ising model.

This work studies universal finite size scaling functions for the number of one-dimensional spanning avalanches in a two-dimensional (2D) disordered system with boundary conditions of different nature and different aspect ratios. To this end, we will consider the 2D random field Ising model at T=0 driven by the external field H with athermal dynamics implemented with periodic and forced boundary conditions. We have chosen a convenient scaling variable z that accounts for the deformation of the distance to the critical point caused by the aspect ratio. In addition, assuming that the dependence of the finite size scaling functions on the aspect ratio can be accounted for by an additional multiplicative factor, we have been able to collapse data for different system sizes, different aspect ratios, and different types of the boundary conditions into a single scaling function Q̂.

Thermodynamic Casimir effect in films: the exchange cluster algorithm.

We study the thermodynamic Casimir force for films with various types of boundary conditions and the bulk universality class of the three-dimensional Ising model. To this end, we perform Monte Carlo simulations of the improved Blume-Capel model on the simple cubic lattice. In particular, we employ the exchange or geometric cluster cluster algorithm [Heringa and Blöte, Phys. Rev. E 57, 4976 (1998)]. In a previous work, we demonstrated that this algorithm allows us to compute the thermodynamic Casimir force for the plate-sphere geometry efficiently. It turns out that also for the film geometry a substantial reduction of the statistical error can achieved. Concerning physics, we focus on (O,O) boundary conditions, where O denotes the ordinary surface transition. These are implemented by free boundary conditions on both sides of the film. Films with such boundary conditions undergo a phase transition in the universality class of the two-dimensional Ising model. We determine the inverse transition temperature for a large range of thicknesses L(0) of the film and study the scaling of this temperature with L(0). In the neighborhood of the transition, the thermodynamic Casimir force is affected by finite size effects, where finite size refers to a finite transversal extension L of the film. We demonstrate that these finite size effects can be computed by using the universal finite size scaling function of the free energy of the two-dimensional Ising model.