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

Physical Review Letters

Quasicritical Behavior and First-Order Transition in the d=3 Random-Field Ising Model

A. P. Young, Michael Nauenberg

Published Jun 3, 1985• 117 citations
Publisher

Abstract

The three-dimensional random-field Ising model is studied by Monte Carlo simulations on $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ lattices with $L<~64$. Our results are completely consistent with there being a ferromagnetically ordered state at low temperatures. For $T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{T}_{c}^{+}$, the susceptibility and correlation length have effective exponents similar to the pure two-dimensional Ising model. However, for the random-field values studied, the transition is actually first order, driven by large fluctuations in the disconnected correlation functions. We suggest that the transition is first order, even for arbitrarily small values of the random field.

DOI
10.1103/physrevlett.54.2429

Related papers

Critical behavior of the three-dimensional random-field Ising model: Two-exponent scaling and discontinuous transition

Heiko Rieger

In extensive Monte Carlo simulations the phase transition of the random-field Ising model in three dimensions is investigated. The values of the critical exponents are determined via finite-size scaling. For a Gaussian distribution of the random fields it is found that the correlation length \ensuremath{\xi} diverges with an exponent \ensuremath{\nu}=1.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 at the critical temperature and that \ensuremath{\chi}\ensuremath{\sim}${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}$ with \ensuremath{\eta}=0.50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 for the connected susceptibility and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{dis}}$\ensuremath{\sim}${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{4\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}\mathrm{\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}}$ with \ensuremath{\eta}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 for the disconnected susceptibility. Together with the amplitude ratio A=${\mathrm{lim}}_{\mathit{T}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathit{T}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{dis}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}^{2}$(${\mathit{h}}_{\mathit{r}}$/T${)}^{2}$ being close to one this gives further support for a two-exponent scaling scenario implying \ensuremath{\eta}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=2\ensuremath{\eta}. The magnetization behaves discontinuously at the transition, i.e., \ensuremath{\beta}=0. However, no divergence for the specific heat and in particular no latent heat is found. Also the probability distribution of the magnetization does not show a multipeak structure that would be characteristic for the phase-coexistence at first-order phase-transition points.

arXiv:cond-mat/9503041•Physical review. B, Condensed matter•Sep 1, 1995•138 citations

Critical exponents of the three-dimensional random field Ising model

Heiko Rieger, A. P. Young

The phase transition of the three-dimensional random field Ising model with a discrete (+or-h) field distribution is investigated by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Values of the critical exponents for the correlation length, specific heat, susceptibility, disconnected susceptibility and magnetization are determined simultaneously via finite size scaling. While the magnetization appears to be discontinuous, the specific heat appears to saturate, indicating no latent heat. Sample-to-sample fluctuations of the susceptibility are consistent with the droplet picture for the transition.

arXiv:cond-mat/9303045•Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General•Oct 21, 1993•109 citations

Phase transitions in a three-dimensional kinetic spin-1/2 Ising model with random field: Effective-field-theory study

Emanuel Costabile, J. Ricardo de Sousa

The dynamical phase transitions of the kinetic Ising model in the presence of a random magnetic field with a bimodal probability distribution is studied by using effective-field theory (EFT) with correlations. We have used a Glauber-type stochastic dynamic to describe the time evolution of the system, where the system strongly depends on the H≡√<H(i)(2)>(c) root mean square deviation of the magnetic field. The EFT dynamic equation is given for the simple cubic lattice (z=6), and the dynamic order parameter is calculated. The system presents ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states for low and high temperatures, respectively. Our results predict first-order transitions at low temperatures and large disorder strengths, which corresponds to the existence of a nonequilibrium tricritical point (TCP) in a phase diagram in the T-H plane. We compare the results with the equilibrium phase diagram, where only the first-order line is different. Our qualitative results are compatible with recent Monte Carlo simulations.

Physical Review E•Jan 13, 2012•15 citations

Monte Carlo study of the random-field Ising model

Mark E. J. Newman, G. T. Barkema

Using a cluster-flipping Monte Carlo algorithm combined with a generalization of the histogram reweighting scheme of Ferrenberg and Swendsen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2635 (1988); 63, 1195 (1989)], we have studied the equilibrium properties of the thermal random-field Ising model on a cubic lattice in three dimensions. We have equilibrated systems of L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L spins, with values of L up to 32, and for these systems the cluster-flipping method appears to a large extent to overcome the slow equilibration seen in single-spin-flip methods. From the results of our simulations we have extracted values for the critical exponents and the critical temperature and randomness of the model by finite size scaling. For the exponents we find \ensuremath{\nu}=1.02\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06, \ensuremath{\beta}=0.06\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07, \ensuremath{\gamma}=1.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2, and \ensuremath{\gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=2.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2, where \ensuremath{\nu}, \ensuremath{\beta}, \ensuremath{\gamma}, and \ensuremath{\gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} govern the critical singularities in the correlation length, magnetization, and connected and disconnected susceptibilities, respectively. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.

arXiv:cond-mat/9507044•Physical review. E, Statistical physics, plasmas, fluids, and related interdisciplinary topics•Jan 1, 1996•81 citations

Critical behavior of a 3-D Ising model in a random field

David Paul Landau, H. H. Lee, W. P. Kao

A Monte Carlo method has been used to study a simple cubic Ising ferromagnet in a random quenched magnetic field. The Hamiltonian for this model is ℋ==JΣ(ij)σiσj−ΣiHiσi, where σi,σj=±1, J is the nearest-neighbor interaction constant, and the field Hi=tH is fixed at each site with ti=±1 at random and Σti=0. L×L×L lattices with periodic boundary conditions have been studied for a range of H and T. As expected we find a ferromagnetic ordered state which for small H undergoes a second order phase change to the paramagnetic state with increasing temperature. A finite size scaling analysis of the preliminary data suggests that the critical exponent β is substantially smaller (β∼0.2) than the usual 3-dim Ising value of 0.31. Results obtained for small lattices indicate that below kT/J-2 the transition becomes first order suggesting that a tricritical point appears on the critcal field curve.

Journal of Applied Physics•Mar 1, 1978•66 citations

First-order phase transition in a 2D random-field Ising model with conflicting dynamics

Nuno Crokidakis

The effects of locally random magnetic fields are considered in a nonequilibrium Ising model defined on a square lattice with nearest-neighbor interactions. In order to generate the random magnetic fields, we have considered random variables { h } that change randomly with time according to a double-Gaussian probability distribution, which consists of two single-Gaussian distributions, centered at + h o and − h o , with the same width σ. This distribution is very general and can recover in appropriate limits the bimodal distribution ( ) and the single-Gaussian one ( h o = 0). We performed Monte Carlo simulations in lattices with linear sizes in the range L = 32–512. The system exhibits ferromagnetic and paramagnetic steady states. Our results suggest the occurrence of first-order phase transitions between the above-mentioned phases at low temperatures and large random-field intensities h o for some small values of the width σ. By means of finite size scaling, we estimate the critical exponents in the low-field region, where we have continuous phase transitions. In addition, we show a sketch of the phase diagram of the model for some values of σ.

arXiv:0901.2659•Journal of Statistical Mechanics Theory and Experiment•Feb 24, 2009•7 citations
The three-dimensional random-field Ising model is studied by Monte Carlo simulations on L\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fiL\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fiLL\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}LL\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fiL\ifmmode×\else\texttimes\fiL lattices with L< 64L<~64L< 64. Our results are completely consistent with there being a ferromagnetically ordered state at low temperatures. For T\ensuremath→Tc+T\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{T}_{c}^{+}T\ensuremath→Tc+​, the susceptibility and correlation length have effective exponents similar to the pure two-dimensional Ising model. However, for the random-field values studied, the transition is actually first order, driven by large fluctuations in the disconnected correlation functions. We suggest that the transition is first order, even for arbitrarily small values of the random field.
In extensive Monte Carlo simulations the phase transition of the random-field Ising model in three dimensions is investigated. The values of the critical exponents are determined via finite-size scaling. For a Gaussian distribution of the random fields it is found that the correlation length \ensuremath{\xi} diverges with an exponent \ensuremath{\nu}=1.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2 at the critical temperature and that \ensuremath{\chi}\ensuremath{\sim}${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}}$ with \ensuremath{\eta}=0.50\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 for the connected susceptibility and ${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{dis}}$\ensuremath{\sim}${\ensuremath{\xi}}^{4\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\eta}}\mathrm{\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}}}$ with \ensuremath{\eta}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=1.03\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.05 for the disconnected susceptibility. Together with the amplitude ratio A=${\mathrm{lim}}_{\mathit{T}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathit{T}\mathit{c}}$${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}_{\mathrm{dis}}$/${\mathrm{\ensuremath{\chi}}}^{2}$(hr{\mathit{h}}_{\mathit{r}}hr​/T)2{)}^{2})2 being close to one this gives further support for a two-exponent scaling scenario implying \ensuremath{\eta}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=2\ensuremath{\eta}. The magnetization behaves discontinuously at the transition, i.e., \ensuremath{\beta}=0. However, no divergence for the specific heat and in particular no latent heat is found. Also the probability distribution of the magnetization does not show a multipeak structure that would be characteristic for the phase-coexistence at first-order phase-transition points.
The phase transition of the three-dimensional random field Ising model with a discrete (+or-h) field distribution is investigated by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Values of the critical exponents for the correlation length, specific heat, susceptibility, disconnected susceptibility and magnetization are determined simultaneously via finite size scaling. While the magnetization appears to be discontinuous, the specific heat appears to saturate, indicating no latent heat. Sample-to-sample fluctuations of the susceptibility are consistent with the droplet picture for the transition.
The dynamical phase transitions of the kinetic Ising model in the presence of a random magnetic field with a bimodal probability distribution is studied by using effective-field theory (EFT) with correlations. We have used a Glauber-type stochastic dynamic to describe the time evolution of the system, where the system strongly depends on the H≡√<H(i)(2)>(c) root mean square deviation of the magnetic field. The EFT dynamic equation is given for the simple cubic lattice (z=6), and the dynamic order parameter is calculated. The system presents ferromagnetic and paramagnetic states for low and high temperatures, respectively. Our results predict first-order transitions at low temperatures and large disorder strengths, which corresponds to the existence of a nonequilibrium tricritical point (TCP) in a phase diagram in the T-H plane. We compare the results with the equilibrium phase diagram, where only the first-order line is different. Our qualitative results are compatible with recent Monte Carlo simulations.
Using a cluster-flipping Monte Carlo algorithm combined with a generalization of the histogram reweighting scheme of Ferrenberg and Swendsen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2635 (1988); 63, 1195 (1989)], we have studied the equilibrium properties of the thermal random-field Ising model on a cubic lattice in three dimensions. We have equilibrated systems of L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L spins, with values of L up to 32, and for these systems the cluster-flipping method appears to a large extent to overcome the slow equilibration seen in single-spin-flip methods. From the results of our simulations we have extracted values for the critical exponents and the critical temperature and randomness of the model by finite size scaling. For the exponents we find \ensuremath{\nu}=1.02\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.06, \ensuremath{\beta}=0.06\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.07, \ensuremath{\gamma}=1.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2, and \ensuremath{\gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}=2.9\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2, where \ensuremath{\nu}, \ensuremath{\beta}, \ensuremath{\gamma}, and \ensuremath{\gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{} govern the critical singularities in the correlation length, magnetization, and connected and disconnected susceptibilities, respectively. \textcopyright{} 1996 The American Physical Society.
A Monte Carlo method has been used to study a simple cubic Ising ferromagnet in a random quenched magnetic field. The Hamiltonian for this model is ℋ==JΣ(ij)σiσj−ΣiHiσi, where σi,σj=±1, J is the nearest-neighbor interaction constant, and the field Hi=tH is fixed at each site with ti=±1 at random and Σti=0. L×L×L lattices with periodic boundary conditions have been studied for a range of H and T. As expected we find a ferromagnetic ordered state which for small H undergoes a second order phase change to the paramagnetic state with increasing temperature. A finite size scaling analysis of the preliminary data suggests that the critical exponent β is substantially smaller (β∼0.2) than the usual 3-dim Ising value of 0.31. Results obtained for small lattices indicate that below kT/J-2 the transition becomes first order suggesting that a tricritical point appears on the critcal field curve.
The effects of locally random magnetic fields are considered in a nonequilibrium Ising model defined on a square lattice with nearest-neighbor interactions. In order to generate the random magnetic fields, we have considered random variables { h } that change randomly with time according to a double-Gaussian probability distribution, which consists of two single-Gaussian distributions, centered at + h o and − h o , with the same width σ. This distribution is very general and can recover in appropriate limits the bimodal distribution ( ) and the single-Gaussian one ( h o = 0). We performed Monte Carlo simulations in lattices with linear sizes in the range L = 32–512. The system exhibits ferromagnetic and paramagnetic steady states. Our results suggest the occurrence of first-order phase transitions between the above-mentioned phases at low temperatures and large random-field intensities h o for some small values of the width σ. By means of finite size scaling, we estimate the critical exponents in the low-field region, where we have continuous phase transitions. In addition, we show a sketch of the phase diagram of the model for some values of σ.