Journal of Physics A Mathematical and General
Finite-size scaling for a relativistic Bose gas in an Einstein universe
S Singh, Raj K. Pathria
Abstract
The scaling hypothesis on the 'singular' part of the free-energy density of a finite system is examined in the context of a relativistic Bose gas confined to an Einstein universe of radius R. Finite-size effects in the various thermodynamic properties of the system, such as the free energy, the specific heat, the isothermal compressibility and the condensate density, are predicted in the regions of both first-order (T<T c ) and second-order (T approximately=T c ) phase transitions. To test these predictions, a detailed analytical study is carried out which includes the possibility of particle-antiparticle pair production in the system. The various predictions of the scaling hypothesis are fully borne out and the scaling functions governing the critical behaviour of the system are found to be universal, irrespective of the severity of the relativistic effects.