Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:2606.20460

Scaling, fractal dynamics, and critical exponents in the equilibrium phase transition

Adauto F. Souza, H. Lima, A. L. R. Barbosa, Fernando A. Oliveira

Published Jun 18, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

Statistical methods are essential for understanding thermodynamic systems with many degrees of freedom. For systems in equilibrium, a very useful method is that of correlation functions, which establish a correlation between a field phi(x), which depends on the spatial position x, and the same field evaluated at another position, phi(x0). Fisher [Journal of Mathematical Physics 5, 944322 (1964)] introduced the autocorrelation function for fluctuations of the order parameter, which has been an important mathematical tool for understanding second-order phase transitions in equilibrium. However, his analysis is restricted to a Euclidean space of dimension d, and an exponent eta is introduced to correct the spatial behavior of the correlation function at T = Tc. In a recent work, Lima et al. [Phys. Rev. E 110, L062107 (2024)] demonstrated that a modern fractional differential analysis is necessary for a complete description of the correlation function at Tc. In this study, we highlight the deep connection among scaling behavior, critical exponents, and fractal geometry. Our results provide a unified geometric interpretation of critical exponents and fractal dimensions, broadly applicable to thermodynamic phase transitions. However, the approach does not apply to topological phase transitions, which lack local order parameters and the associated scale-invariant fractal geometry. We verify its predictions for several cornerstone thermodynamic models: the Ising, Potts, XY, and Heisenberg systems.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2606.20460

Related papers

A new fractal mean-field analysis in phase transition

Ismael S. S. Carrasco, H. Lima, Fernando Albuquerque Oliveira

Abstract Understanding phase transitions requires not only identifying order parameters but also characterizing how their correlations behave across scales. By quantifying how fluctuations at distinct spatial or temporal points are related, correlation functions reveal the structural organization of complex systems. In this work, we reexamine the theoretical foundations of these correlations in systems undergoing second-order phase transitions, with emphasis on the Ising model extended to non-integer spatial dimensions. We revisit the hypotesis that, at criticality, the equilibrium dynamics become effectively confined to the fractal edge of spin clusters and redo the analysis using fractional calculus. Within this framework, the fractal dimension that governs the correlations in that subspace is directly related to Fisher’s exponent $$\eta$$ η , which quantifies the singular behavior of the correlation function near criticality. Importantly, this correlation fractal dimension is distinct from the fractal dimension associated with the order parameter. The fractional approach allows us to directly compute the correlation fractal dimension and to establish an explicit geometrical relation connecting the two fractal dimensions. Moreover, the formulation naturally extends to non-integer spatial dimensions, remaining valid below the upper critical dimension and yielding the correct value of Fisher’s exponent $$\eta$$ η for a continuous spatial dimension d . Within this framework, we also provide empirical functions describing how the main critical exponents vary continuously as a function of the space dimension.

arXiv:2511.20846•The European Physical Journal Special Topics•Apr 28, 2026•1 citation

Fractal signatures of strong universality in the disordered Ising model

H. Lima, Kaue H. Abbehausen, Ismael S. S. Carrasco +2 more

Disordered systems are very rich laboratories for exploring complex systems. In particular, disordered magnetic systems have been extremely important in the last five decades for understanding a wide range of phenomena. In this work, we use the Edwards-Anderson Hamiltonian to obtain the thermodynamic properties of disordered magnetic systems. In this way, we conduct a systematic investigation of magnetization, correlation functions, order parameter, and fractal dimensions, in function of disorder. In this context, the autocorrelation function for order--parameter fluctuations, introduced by Fisher ( Journal of Mathematical Physics 5, 944322 (1964)), provides an important mathematical framework for understanding the second-order phase transition at equilibrium. However, his analysis is restricted to a Euclidean space of dimension $d$, and an exponent $η$ is introduced to correct the spatial behavior of the correlation function at $T=T_c$. In recent work, Lima et al ( Phys. Rev. E 110, L062107 (2024)) demonstrated that at $T_c$ a fractal analysis is necessary for a complete description of the correlation function. We use Monte Carlo simulations to validate analytical results and to show how disorder alters critical exponents , giving rise to different universality classes. On the other hand, there is a subgroup of critical exponents and fractal dimensions that are invariant with disorder. This subgroup heralds a strong universality class.

arXiv:2605.15441•May 14, 2026•0 citations

Geometrical interpretation of critical exponents

H. Lima, Edwin E. Mozo Luis, Ismael S. S. Carrasco +2 more

We develop a hypothesis that the dynamics of equilibrium systems at criticality have their dynamics constricted to a fractal subspace. We relate the correlation fractal dimension associated with this subspace to the Fisher critical exponent controlling the singularity associated with the correlation function. This fractal subspace is different from that associated with the order parameter. We propose a relation between the correlation fractal dimension and the order parameter fractal dimension. The fractal subspace we identify has as a defining property that the correlation function is restored at the critical point by restricting the dynamics this way. We determine the correlation fractal dimension of the two-dimensional Ising model and validate it by computer simulations. We discuss growth models briefly in this context.

Physical review. E•Dec 20, 2024•5 citations

Equilibrium critical phenomena

Uwe Claus Täuber

To set the stage for our subsequent thorough discussion of dynamic critical phenomena, we first review the theoretical description of second-order equilibrium phase transitions. (Readers already well acquainted with this material may readily move on to Chapter 2.) To this end, we compare the critical exponents following from the van-der-Waals equation of state for weakly interacting gases with the results from the Curie–Weiss mean-field approximation for the ferromagnetic Ising model. We then provide a unifying description in terms of Landau–Ginzburg theory, i.e., a long-wavelength expansion of the effective free energy with respect to the order parameter. The Gaussian model is analyzed, and a quantitative criterion is established that defines the circumstances when non-linear fluctuations need to be taken into account properly. Thereby we identify d c = 4 as the upper critical dimension for generic continuous phase transitions in thermal equilibrium. The most characteristic feature of a critical point turns out to be the divergence of the correlation length that renders microscopic details oblivious. As a consequence, not only the correlation functions, but remarkably the thermodynamics as well of a critical system are governed by an emergent unusual symmetry: scale invariance. A simple scaling ansatz is capable of linking different critical exponents; as an application, we introduce the basic elements of finite-size scaling. Finally, a brief sketch of Wilson's momentum shell renormalization group method is presented, intended as a pedagogical preview of the fundamental RG ideas. Exploiting the scale invariance properties at the critical point, the scaling forms of the free energy and the order parameter correlation function are derived.

Cambridge University Press eBooks•Mar 6, 2014•1 citation

Classical and Quantum Phase Transitions in Multiscale Media: Universality and Critical Exponents in the Fractional Ising Model

Lewis, Joshua M., Lincoln D. Carr

Until now multiscale quantum problems have appeared to be out of reach at the many-body level relevant to strongly correlated materials and current quantum information devices. In fact, they can be modeled with $q$-th order fractional derivatives, as we demonstrate in this work, treating classical and quantum phase transitions in a fractional Ising model for $0 < q \leq 2$ ($q = 2$ is the usual Ising model). We show that fractional derivatives not only enable continuous tuning of critical exponents such as $ν$, $δ$, and $η$, but also define the Hausdorff dimension $H_D$ of the system tied geometrically to the anomalous dimension $η$. We discover that for classical systems, $H_D$ is precisely equal to the fractional order $q$. In contrast, for quantum systems, $H_D$ deviates from this direct equivalence, scaling more gradually, driven by additional degrees of freedom introduced by quantum fluctuations. These results reveal how fractional derivatives fundamentally modify the fractal geometry of many-body interactions, directly influencing the universal symmetries of the system and overcoming traditional dimensional restrictions on phase transitions. Specifically, we find that for $q < 1$ in the classical regime and $q < 2$ in the quantum regime, fractional interactions allow phase transitions in one dimension. This work establishes fractional derivatives as a powerful tool for engineering critical behavior, offering new insights into the geometry of multiscale systems and opening avenues for exploring tunable quantum materials on NISQ devices.

arXiv:2501.14134•Jan 23, 2025•0 citations

Calculation of critical exponents on fractal lattice Ising model by higher-order tensor renormalization group method

Jozef Genzor

The critical behavior of the Ising model on a fractal lattice, which has the Hausdorff dimension log_{4}12≈1.792, is investigated using a modified higher-order tensor renormalization group algorithm supplemented with automatic differentiation to compute relevant derivatives efficiently and accurately. The complete set of critical exponents characteristic of a second-order phase transition was obtained. Correlations near the critical temperature were analyzed through two impurity tensors inserted into the system, which allowed us to obtain the correlation lengths and calculate the critical exponent ν. The critical exponent α was found to be negative, consistent with the observation that the specific heat does not diverge at the critical temperature. The extracted exponents satisfy the known relations given by various scaling assumptions within reasonable accuracy. Perhaps most interestingly, the hyperscaling relation, which contains the spatial dimension, is satisfied very well, assuming the Hausdorff dimension takes the place of the spatial dimension. Moreover, using automatic differentiation, we have extracted four critical exponents (α, β, γ, and δ) globally by differentiating the free energy. Surprisingly, the global exponents differ from those obtained locally by the technique of the impurity tensors; however, the scaling relations remain satisfied even in the case of the global exponents.

arXiv:2210.15268•Physical review. E•Mar 20, 2023•6 citations
Statistical methods are essential for understanding thermodynamic systems with many degrees of freedom. For systems in equilibrium, a very useful method is that of correlation functions, which establish a correlation between a field phi(x), which depends on the spatial position x, and the same field evaluated at another position, phi(x0). Fisher [Journal of Mathematical Physics 5, 944322 (1964)] introduced the autocorrelation function for fluctuations of the order parameter, which has been an important mathematical tool for understanding second-order phase transitions in equilibrium. However, his analysis is restricted to a Euclidean space of dimension d, and an exponent eta is introduced to correct the spatial behavior of the correlation function at T = Tc. In a recent work, Lima et al. [Phys. Rev. E 110, L062107 (2024)] demonstrated that a modern fractional differential analysis is necessary for a complete description of the correlation function at Tc. In this study, we highlight the deep connection among scaling behavior, critical exponents, and fractal geometry. Our results provide a unified geometric interpretation of critical exponents and fractal dimensions, broadly applicable to thermodynamic phase transitions. However, the approach does not apply to topological phase transitions, which lack local order parameters and the associated scale-invariant fractal geometry. We verify its predictions for several cornerstone thermodynamic models: the Ising, Potts, XY, and Heisenberg systems.
Abstract Understanding phase transitions requires not only identifying order parameters but also characterizing how their correlations behave across scales. By quantifying how fluctuations at distinct spatial or temporal points are related, correlation functions reveal the structural organization of complex systems. In this work, we reexamine the theoretical foundations of these correlations in systems undergoing second-order phase transitions, with emphasis on the Ising model extended to non-integer spatial dimensions. We revisit the hypotesis that, at criticality, the equilibrium dynamics become effectively confined to the fractal edge of spin clusters and redo the analysis using fractional calculus. Within this framework, the fractal dimension that governs the correlations in that subspace is directly related to Fisher’s exponent η\etaη η , which quantifies the singular behavior of the correlation function near criticality. Importantly, this correlation fractal dimension is distinct from the fractal dimension associated with the order parameter. The fractional approach allows us to directly compute the correlation fractal dimension and to establish an explicit geometrical relation connecting the two fractal dimensions. Moreover, the formulation naturally extends to non-integer spatial dimensions, remaining valid below the upper critical dimension and yielding the correct value of Fisher’s exponent η\etaη η for a continuous spatial dimension d . Within this framework, we also provide empirical functions describing how the main critical exponents vary continuously as a function of the space dimension.
Disordered systems are very rich laboratories for exploring complex systems. In particular, disordered magnetic systems have been extremely important in the last five decades for understanding a wide range of phenomena. In this work, we use the Edwards-Anderson Hamiltonian to obtain the thermodynamic properties of disordered magnetic systems. In this way, we conduct a systematic investigation of magnetization, correlation functions, order parameter, and fractal dimensions, in function of disorder. In this context, the autocorrelation function for order--parameter fluctuations, introduced by Fisher ( Journal of Mathematical Physics 5, 944322 (1964)), provides an important mathematical framework for understanding the second-order phase transition at equilibrium. However, his analysis is restricted to a Euclidean space of dimension ddd, and an exponent ηηη is introduced to correct the spatial behavior of the correlation function at T=TcT=T_cT=Tc​. In recent work, Lima et al ( Phys. Rev. E 110, L062107 (2024)) demonstrated that at TcT_cTc​ a fractal analysis is necessary for a complete description of the correlation function. We use Monte Carlo simulations to validate analytical results and to show how disorder alters critical exponents , giving rise to different universality classes. On the other hand, there is a subgroup of critical exponents and fractal dimensions that are invariant with disorder. This subgroup heralds a strong universality class.
We develop a hypothesis that the dynamics of equilibrium systems at criticality have their dynamics constricted to a fractal subspace. We relate the correlation fractal dimension associated with this subspace to the Fisher critical exponent controlling the singularity associated with the correlation function. This fractal subspace is different from that associated with the order parameter. We propose a relation between the correlation fractal dimension and the order parameter fractal dimension. The fractal subspace we identify has as a defining property that the correlation function is restored at the critical point by restricting the dynamics this way. We determine the correlation fractal dimension of the two-dimensional Ising model and validate it by computer simulations. We discuss growth models briefly in this context.
To set the stage for our subsequent thorough discussion of dynamic critical phenomena, we first review the theoretical description of second-order equilibrium phase transitions. (Readers already well acquainted with this material may readily move on to Chapter 2.) To this end, we compare the critical exponents following from the van-der-Waals equation of state for weakly interacting gases with the results from the Curie–Weiss mean-field approximation for the ferromagnetic Ising model. We then provide a unifying description in terms of Landau–Ginzburg theory, i.e., a long-wavelength expansion of the effective free energy with respect to the order parameter. The Gaussian model is analyzed, and a quantitative criterion is established that defines the circumstances when non-linear fluctuations need to be taken into account properly. Thereby we identify d c = 4 as the upper critical dimension for generic continuous phase transitions in thermal equilibrium. The most characteristic feature of a critical point turns out to be the divergence of the correlation length that renders microscopic details oblivious. As a consequence, not only the correlation functions, but remarkably the thermodynamics as well of a critical system are governed by an emergent unusual symmetry: scale invariance. A simple scaling ansatz is capable of linking different critical exponents; as an application, we introduce the basic elements of finite-size scaling. Finally, a brief sketch of Wilson's momentum shell renormalization group method is presented, intended as a pedagogical preview of the fundamental RG ideas. Exploiting the scale invariance properties at the critical point, the scaling forms of the free energy and the order parameter correlation function are derived.
Until now multiscale quantum problems have appeared to be out of reach at the many-body level relevant to strongly correlated materials and current quantum information devices. In fact, they can be modeled with qqq-th order fractional derivatives, as we demonstrate in this work, treating classical and quantum phase transitions in a fractional Ising model for 0<q≤20 < q \leq 20<q≤2 (q=2q = 2q=2 is the usual Ising model). We show that fractional derivatives not only enable continuous tuning of critical exponents such as ννν, δδδ, and ηηη, but also define the Hausdorff dimension HDH_DHD​ of the system tied geometrically to the anomalous dimension ηηη. We discover that for classical systems, HDH_DHD​ is precisely equal to the fractional order qqq. In contrast, for quantum systems, HDH_DHD​ deviates from this direct equivalence, scaling more gradually, driven by additional degrees of freedom introduced by quantum fluctuations. These results reveal how fractional derivatives fundamentally modify the fractal geometry of many-body interactions, directly influencing the universal symmetries of the system and overcoming traditional dimensional restrictions on phase transitions. Specifically, we find that for q<1q < 1q<1 in the classical regime and q<2q < 2q<2 in the quantum regime, fractional interactions allow phase transitions in one dimension. This work establishes fractional derivatives as a powerful tool for engineering critical behavior, offering new insights into the geometry of multiscale systems and opening avenues for exploring tunable quantum materials on NISQ devices.
The critical behavior of the Ising model on a fractal lattice, which has the Hausdorff dimension log_{4}12≈1.792, is investigated using a modified higher-order tensor renormalization group algorithm supplemented with automatic differentiation to compute relevant derivatives efficiently and accurately. The complete set of critical exponents characteristic of a second-order phase transition was obtained. Correlations near the critical temperature were analyzed through two impurity tensors inserted into the system, which allowed us to obtain the correlation lengths and calculate the critical exponent ν. The critical exponent α was found to be negative, consistent with the observation that the specific heat does not diverge at the critical temperature. The extracted exponents satisfy the known relations given by various scaling assumptions within reasonable accuracy. Perhaps most interestingly, the hyperscaling relation, which contains the spatial dimension, is satisfied very well, assuming the Hausdorff dimension takes the place of the spatial dimension. Moreover, using automatic differentiation, we have extracted four critical exponents (α, β, γ, and δ) globally by differentiating the free energy. Surprisingly, the global exponents differ from those obtained locally by the technique of the impurity tensors; however, the scaling relations remain satisfied even in the case of the global exponents.