We present the results of the first analytical study of finite-size effects in a random-field model. In particular we consider the random-field spherical model in partially infinite geometries (infinite in ${d}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ dimensions and finite in $d\ensuremath{-}{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ dimensions) under periodic and antiperiodic boundary conditions in the finite directions. We find a simultaneous dimensional reduction by 2 in
d and ${d}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ for
4<d<6 and $2<~{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}<~4$. For $0<~{d}^{\ensuremath{'}}<2$, we find new power laws describing the approach to bulk in different geometries.
A scaling hypothesis is set up for the correlation function G(R,T;L) of a finite-sized system, with O(n) symmetry (n\ensuremath{\ge}2), confined to geometry ${L}^{d\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}d\mathcal{'}}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\ensuremath{\infty}}^{d\mathcal{'}}$ (2d4, d'\ensuremath{\le}2) and subjected to periodic boundary conditions. Finite-size effects in the correlation length \ensuremath{\xi}(T;L) are predicted in the region of first-order phase transition (T
Tc) as well as the region of second-order phase transition (T\ensuremath{\simeq}
Tc); for the correlation function, the predictions relate mostly to the regime T
Tc. To test these predictions, a detailed analytical study is carried out in the case of the spherical model and all predictions are seen to be fully borne out. In the process we find that, though a single correlation length \ensuremath{\xi} governs the scaling of the variable R in all directions, the functional dependence of the correlation function on the scaled parameter R/\ensuremath{\xi} is highly anisotropic, in that it depends very differently on the components, ${\mathrm{R}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ and
R?, of R pertaining to the finite and the infinite dimensions, respectively. Most importantly, while long-range order at temperatures below
Tc prevails all the way in the direction of ${\mathrm{R}}_{\ensuremath{\perp}}$ it is severely limited in the direction of
R?. In fact, for
R?\ensuremath{\gg}L, the qualitative features of the correlation function become characteristic of a d'-dimensional bulk system, though \ensuremath{\xi} still pertains to the actual, finite-sized system; the net result is that long-range order in the direction of
R? persists only to distances small in comparison with \ensuremath{\xi} which, for d'2, is found to be O(L(L/a${)}^{(d\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}2)/(2\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}d\mathcal{'})}$), a being the lattice constant.
The finite-size scaling hypothesis of Privman and Fisher (Phys. Rev. B, 30, 322 (1984)) is applied to systems with O(n) symmetry [Formula: see text], confined to geometry Ld − d′ × ∞d′ (where d and d′ are continuous variables such that 2 < d′ < d < 4) and subjected to periodic boundary conditions. Predictions, involving amplitudes as well as exponents, are made on the singular part of the specific heat c(s), spontaneous magnetization m0, magnetic susceptibility χ0, and correlation length ξ0 in the region of the second-order phase transition [Formula: see text]. Analytical verification of these predictions is carried out in the case of the spherical model of ferromagnetism (n = ∞), which includes evaluation of the shift in the critical temperature of the system.
One of the most striking aspects of critical behaviour is that of the crucial role played by the geometry of the System. Critical exponents depend in a non-trivial manner on the dimensionality d . The very existence of a phase transition depends on the way in which the infinite volume limit is taken, as discussed in Section 4.4. This happens because the critical fluctuations, which determine the universal properties, occur at long wavelengths and are therefore very sensitive to the large scale geometry. By contrast, the non-critical properties of a system are sensitive to fluctuations on the scale of the correlation length and are therefore much less influenced. This line of reasoning also suggests that not all points in a system are equivalent in the way the local degrees of freedom couple to these critical fluctuations. So far, we have considered the behaviour of scaling operators only at points deep inside the bulk of a system. Near a boundary, however, the local environment of a given degree of freedom is different, and we might expect to find different critical properties there. In general, such differences should extend into the bulk only over distances of the order of the bulk correlation length. However, at a continuous bulk phase transition, this distance diverges, and we should expect the influence of boundaries to be more pronounced. The simplest modification of the bulk geometry to consider is that of a ( d − 1)-dimensional hyperplane bounding a semi-infinite d -dimensional system.
A scaling hypothesis is set up for the magnetization m(T,H;L), susceptibility \ensuremath{\chi}(T,H;L), and correlation length \ensuremath{\xi}(T,H;L) of a finite-sized system, with O(n) symmetry (n\ensuremath{\ge}2) and long-range interactions decaying as 1/${r}^{d+\ensuremath{\sigma}}$ (0<\ensuremath{\sigma}<2), confined to geometry ${L}^{d\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}d\mathcal{'}}$\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${\ensuremath{\infty}}^{d\mathcal{'}}$ (\ensuremath{\sigma}<d<2\ensuremath{\sigma},d'\ensuremath{\le}\ensuremath{\sigma}) and subjected to periodic boundary conditions. Finite-size effects are predicted, in the region of a first-order phase transition (T
Tc) as well as in the region of a second-order phase transition (T\ensuremath{\simeq}
Tc), for different regimes of the parameters H and L. To test these predictions, a detailed analytical study is carried out in the case of the spherical model of ferromagnetism (n=\ensuremath{\infty}), and all predictions based on the scaling hypothesis are seen to be fully borne out. In situations where L\ensuremath{\gg}\ensuremath{\xi}, finite-size corrections to standard bulk values of the various physical quantities pertaining to these models are found to vary as (\ensuremath{\xi}/L${)}^{d+\ensuremath{\sigma}}$, rather than as ${e}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}L/\ensuremath{\xi}}$, which is characteristic of models with short-range interactions.
Explicit expressions are derived for the free energy, the specific heat, and the magnetic susceptibility of a spherical model of spins on a d-dimensional hypercubical lattice, of size
L1\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}
L2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}...\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}
Ld, under antiperiodic boundary conditions. The relevant scaling functions that govern the critical behavior of the system are obtained and, with the use of the asymptotic properties of these functions, various predictions of the Privman-Fisher hypothesis [Phys. Rev. B 30, 322 (1984)] on the hyperuniversality of finite systems are verified. Approach towards standard critical behavior, both for T
Tc(\ensuremath{\infty}) and T>
Tc(\ensuremath{\infty}), is examined. In the former case, the approach generally takes place through a power law; only in some special situations does one obtain an exponential law instead. In the latter case, the approach is generally exponential, except for the susceptibility of the system which (somewhat surprisingly) displays a finite-size effect dominantly determined by the surface-to-volume ratio of the lattice.