Using suitable Monte Carlo methods and finite-size scaling, we investigate critical and tricritical surface phenomena of two-dimensional Potts models. For the critical two- and three-state models, we determine a surface scaling dimension describing percolation properties of the so-called Potts clusters near the edges. On this basis, we propose an exact expression describing this exponent for the whole critical branch. For tricritical Potts models we find that varying the surface coupling constant or the surface magnetic field can induce a continuous phase transition. At bulk tricriticality and sufficiently strong surface couplings, spontaneous one-dimensional order occurs on the edges. We determine several critical exponents describing these edge transitions. On the basis of these results and conformal field theory, we conjecture exact expressions for these exponents.
Using suitable Monte Carlo methods and finite-size scaling, we investigate critical and tricritical surface phenomena of two-dimensional Potts models. For the critical two- and three-state models, we determine a surface scaling dimension describing percolation properties of the so-called Potts clusters near the edges. On this basis, we propose an exact expression describing this exponent for the whole critical branch. For tricritical Potts models we find that varying the surface coupling constant or the surface magnetic field can induce a continuous phase transition. At bulk tricriticality and sufficiently strong surface couplings, spontaneous one-dimensional order occurs on the edges. We determine several critical exponents describing these edge transitions. On the basis of these results and conformal field theory, we conjecture exact expressions for these exponents.
Using Monte Carlo techniques and finite-size analysis, we investigate several two-dimensional lattice models with open edges, including the Blume-Capel model and the q=1 and 3 Potts models with vacancies. At bulk tricriticality, we find that the open edges are dominated by the vacancies when the surface coupling K(s) and the chemical potential D(s) of the vacancies assume the bulk values. When K(s) and/or D(s) is sufficiently enhanced, an edge phase transition takes place, beyond which spontaneous one-dimensional order occurs on the edges. Edge phase transitions can also be induced by a surface magnetic field H(s) . We numerically determine a number of edge critical exponents and derive phase diagrams in terms of K(s) , D(s) , and H(s) . In the low-temperature region, we observe first-order transitions when K(s) and D(s) are varied; the associated hysteresis loops of surface quantities are remarkably asymmetric. Some further insight into these edge transitions is provided by the exact equivalence of the tricritical q=1 Potts model and the Ising model.
Using Monte Carlo methods and finite-size scaling, we investigate surface critical phenomena in the bond-percolation model on the simple-cubic lattice with two open surfaces in one direction. We decompose the whole lattice into percolation clusters and sample the surface and bulk dimensionless ratios Q1 and Qb, defined on the basis of the moments of the cluster-size distribution. These ratios are used to determine critical points. At the bulk percolation threshold pbc, we determine the surface bond-occupation probability at the special transition as p(s)1c = 0.418 17(2), and further obtain the corresponding surface thermal and magnetic exponents as y(s)t1 = 0.5387(2) and y(s)h1 = 1.8014(6), respectively. Next, from the pair correlation function on the surfaces, we determine y(o)h1 = 1.0246(4) and y(e)h1 = 1.25(6) for the ordinary and the extraordinary transition, respectively, of which the former is consistent with the existing result y(o)h1 = 1.024(4). We also numerically derive the line of surface phase transitions occurring at pb < pbc, and determine the pertinent asymptotic values of the universal ratios Q1 and Qb.
The analysis of renormalisation group equations for the q-state Potts model in two dimensions is generalised to include the presence of a surface field H s besides the bulk one, H B . Combined with conformal invariance results, this allows prediction of a surface susceptibility behaviour delta 2/f delta H s delta H B approximately L -1/8 (1-C'lnL) 15/16 for a q=4 system of size L at the critical temperature. This prediction is checked by a Monte Carlo based finite-size scaling analysis, which also nicely reproduces the exact and conjectured magnetic surface exponents for q=2 and 3, respectively. For the Baxter-Wu model similar methods give results consistent with the q=4 behaviour without logarithmic corrections (c'=0).
A review is given of recent work on the ordinary surface critical behaviour of systems in two dimensions. Several models of interest in statistical mechanics are considered: Potts model, percolation, Ising clusters, ZN-model, O(n) model and polymers. Numerical results for surface exponents, obtained by suitable finite size scaling extrapolations, are discussed in the light of recent advances based on the conformal invariance approach. Surface exponents are often seen as important tests of conformal invariance predictions. In other cases these exponents provide important information for a location of the problem within the classification schemes offered by the conformal approach, and a determination of its universality class. A relevant example of the first aspect is the study of the q-state Potts model with q near 4, for which an analytical study of logarithmic scaling corrections is needed to achieve a successful test. The latter point of view applies, e.g., to the more controversial cases of polymers at the theta point and critical Ising clusters. Emphasis is put on the importance of an integrated study of both bulk and surface properties. Relevant issues, like the possible existence of analytical expressions for the indices in particular model families, or of general relationships between bulk and surface exponents, are critically discussed. The new problem of critical behaviour at fractal boundaries is also considered for random (RW) and self-avoiding walks (SAW). From the numerical analysis of this problem remarkable universalities of the surface exponents seem to emerge, which, in the case of SAW’s, are still far from being understood.
We determine the backbone exponent X(b) of several critical and tricritical q-state Potts models in two dimensions. The critical systems include the bond percolation, the Ising, the q=2-sqrt[3], 3, and 4 state Potts, and the Baxter-Wu model, and the tricritical ones include the q=1 Potts model and the Blume-Capel model. For this purpose, we formulate several efficient Monte Carlo methods and sample the probability P2 of a pair of points connected via at least two independent paths. Finite-size-scaling analysis of P2 yields X(b) as 0.3566(2), 0.2696(3), 0.2105(3), and 0.127(4) for the critical q=2-sqrt[3], 1,2, 3, and 4 state Potts model, respectively. At tricriticality, we obtain X(b)=0.0520(3) and 0.0753(6) for the q=1 and 2 Potts model, respectively. For the critical q-->0 Potts model it is derived that X(b)=3/4. From a scaling argument, we find that, at tricriticality, X(b) reduces to the magnetic exponent, as confirmed by the numerical results.
Universality is a fundamental concept in modern physics. For the q-state Potts model, the critical exponents are merely determined by the order-parameter symmetry S_{q}, spatial dimensionality and interaction range, independent of microscopic details. In a simplest and mean-field treatment, i.e., the Potts model on complete graph (CG), the phase transition is further established to be of percolation universality for the range of 0<q<2. By simulating the CG Potts model in the random-cluster representation, we numerically demonstrate such a hyperuniversality that the critical exponents are the same for 0<q<2 and, moreover, the Ising system (q=2) exhibits a variety of critical geometric properties in percolation universality. On the other hand, many other universal properties in the finite-size scaling (FSS) theory, including Binder-like ratios and distribution function of the order parameter, are observed to be q dependent. Meanwhile, we have made improvements to the Monte Carlo algorithms for efficiently simulating the CG Potts model. Our finding provides valuable insights for the study of critical phenomena in finite spatial dimensions, particularly when the FSS theory is utilized.