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

Brazilian Journal of Physics

Uncovering the secrets of unusual phase diagrams: applications of two-dimensional Wang-Landau sampling

Shan-Ho Tsai, Fugao Wang, David Paul Landau

Published Mar 1, 2008• 21 citations
Publisher

Abstract

We use a two-dimensional Wang-Landau sampling algorithm to calculate the density of states for two discrete spin models and then extract their phase diagrams. The first system is an asymmetric Ising model on a triangular lattice with two- and three-body interactions in an external field. An accurate density of states allows us to locate the critical endpoint accurately in a two-dimensional parameter space. We observe a divergence of the spectator phase boundary and of the temperature derivative of the magnetization coexistence diameter at the critical endpoint in quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The second model is a Q-state Potts model in an external field H. We map the phase diagram of this model for Q > 8 and observe a first-order phase transition line that starts at the H = 0 phase transition point and ends at a critical point (Tc,Hc), which must be located in a two-dimensional parameter space. The critical field Hc(Q) is positive and increases with Q, in qualitative agreement with previous theoretical predictions.

DOI
10.1590/s0103-97332008000100003

Related papers

TWO-DIMENSIONAL WANG–LANDAU SAMPLING OF AN ASYMMETRIC ISING MODEL

Shan-Ho Tsai, Fugao Wang, David Paul Landau

We study the critical endpoint behavior of an asymmetric Ising model with two- and three-body interactions on a triangular lattice, in the presence of an external field. We use a two-dimensional Wang–Landau sampling method to determine the density of states for this model. An accurate density of states allowed us to map out the phase diagram accurately and observe a clear divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary and of the derivative of the magnetization coexistence diameter near the critical endpoint, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions.

International Journal of Modern Physics C•Sep 1, 2009•2 citations

Critical endpoint behavior in an asymmetric Ising model: Application of Wang-Landau sampling to calculate the density of states

Shan-Ho Tsai, Fugao Wang, David Paul Landau

Using the Wang-Landau sampling method with a two-dimensional random walk we determine the density of states for an asymmetric Ising model with two- and three-body interactions on a triangular lattice, in the presence of an external field. With an accurate density of states we were able to map out the phase diagram accurately and perform quantitative finite-size analyses at, and away from, the critical endpoint. We observe a clear divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary and of the magnetization coexistence diameter derivative at the critical endpoint, and the exponents for both divergences agree well with previous theoretical predictions.

Physical Review E•Jun 8, 2007•35 citations

Wang-Landau sampling of an asymmetric ising model: a study of the critical endpoint behavior

Shan-Ho Tsai, Fugao Wang, D. P. Landau

We use the Wang-Landau algorithm to calculate a density of states for an asymmetric Ising model on a triangular lattice with two- and three-body interactions in an external field. An accurate density of states allows us to determine the phase diagram and to study the critical behavior of this model at and near the critical endpoint. We observe a divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary at the critical endpoint in accordance with theoretical predictions.

Brazilian Journal of Physics•Sep 1, 2006•14 citations

Wang-Landau Sampling of an Asymmetric Ising Model: A Study of the Critical Endpoint Behavior

Shan-Ho Tsaia, Fugao Wanga, D. P. Landaua

We use the Wang-Landau algorithm to calculate a density of states for an asymmetric Ising model on a triangular lattice with twoand three-body interactions in an external field. An accurate density of states allows us to determine the phase diagram and to study the critical behavior of this model at and near the critical endpoint. We observe a divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary at the critical endpoint in accordance with theoretical predictions.

•Jan 1, 2006•0 citations

Phase transitions in two-dimensional Potts models in an external field

Shan-Ho Tsai, L. S. Ferreira, J. A. Plascak +1 more

The q-state Potts model on a square lattice and in the presence of an external magnetic field that couples to only one state is studied by using extensive Monte Carlo simulations. A hybrid algorithm that combines the single spin-flip Metropolis method with Wolff cluster updates is employed. Single-histogram reweighting techniques and the field-mixing approach are also used to obtain the corresponding universal probability distributions. By analyzing the finite-size scaling behavior of the order parameters and universal probability distributions, the phase diagram in the temperature-versus-external field plane is obtained in the thermodynamic limit for some values of state q≥5. For positive fields and higher values of q, there is a clear first-order transition line that starts at the zero-field transition point and ends at an isolated critical point, which is in the two-dimensional Ising universality class. As the value of state q decreases, the corresponding critical field also decreases. The present results strongly suggest that the critical field vanishes when q→5^{+}. However, for negative fields, another first-order transition line occurs without any critical or multicritical behavior for q≥6. The special case with q=5 undergoes a weak first-order transition at zero field and a line of second-order transitions for negative fields. This second-order transition line is in the same universality class as the q=4 Potts model.

Physical review. E•Dec 5, 2025•2 citations

Blume-Emery-Griffiths-Potts model in two dimensions: Phase diagram and critical properties from a position-space renormalization group

A. Nihat Berker, Michael Wortis

The spin-1 Ising model on the square lattice with nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic exchange interactions [both bilinear ($J$) and biquadratic ($K$) and crystal-field interaction ($\ensuremath{\Delta}$) is studied via a renormalization-group transformation in position space. The phase diagram in $J$, $K$, $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ space is found to have one surface of critical phase transitions and two surfaces of first-order phase transitions. These surfaces are variously bounded by an ordinary tricritical line, an isolated critical line, and a line of critical end points. These three lines joint at a special tricritical point corresponding to the transition of the three-state Potts model. The over-all phase diagram is qualitatively similar to that obtained with the mean-field approximation, except in the vicinity of the Potts transition where a four-phase coexistence line in mean-field theory shrinks into a special tricritical point in renormalization-group theory. Symmetry considerations guide the construction of our truncated renormalization-group transformation. The global connectivity and local exponents of the thirteen separate fixed points underlying this quite complicated structure are determined. Local analysis with respect to magnetic field ($H$) and another odd interaction ($L$) is performed. A one-adjusted-parameter version of our transformation yields remarkably quantitative results, predicting the Potts transition temperature, for example, within 0.3% of the exact value.

Physical review. B, Solid state•Dec 1, 1976•371 citations
We use a two-dimensional Wang-Landau sampling algorithm to calculate the density of states for two discrete spin models and then extract their phase diagrams. The first system is an asymmetric Ising model on a triangular lattice with two- and three-body interactions in an external field. An accurate density of states allows us to locate the critical endpoint accurately in a two-dimensional parameter space. We observe a divergence of the spectator phase boundary and of the temperature derivative of the magnetization coexistence diameter at the critical endpoint in quantitative agreement with theoretical predictions. The second model is a Q-state Potts model in an external field H. We map the phase diagram of this model for Q > 8 and observe a first-order phase transition line that starts at the H = 0 phase transition point and ends at a critical point (Tc,Hc), which must be located in a two-dimensional parameter space. The critical field Hc(Q) is positive and increases with Q, in qualitative agreement with previous theoretical predictions.
We study the critical endpoint behavior of an asymmetric Ising model with two- and three-body interactions on a triangular lattice, in the presence of an external field. We use a two-dimensional Wang–Landau sampling method to determine the density of states for this model. An accurate density of states allowed us to map out the phase diagram accurately and observe a clear divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary and of the derivative of the magnetization coexistence diameter near the critical endpoint, in agreement with previous theoretical predictions.
Using the Wang-Landau sampling method with a two-dimensional random walk we determine the density of states for an asymmetric Ising model with two- and three-body interactions on a triangular lattice, in the presence of an external field. With an accurate density of states we were able to map out the phase diagram accurately and perform quantitative finite-size analyses at, and away from, the critical endpoint. We observe a clear divergence of the curvature of the spectator phase boundary and of the magnetization coexistence diameter derivative at the critical endpoint, and the exponents for both divergences agree well with previous theoretical predictions.
The q-state Potts model on a square lattice and in the presence of an external magnetic field that couples to only one state is studied by using extensive Monte Carlo simulations. A hybrid algorithm that combines the single spin-flip Metropolis method with Wolff cluster updates is employed. Single-histogram reweighting techniques and the field-mixing approach are also used to obtain the corresponding universal probability distributions. By analyzing the finite-size scaling behavior of the order parameters and universal probability distributions, the phase diagram in the temperature-versus-external field plane is obtained in the thermodynamic limit for some values of state q≥5. For positive fields and higher values of q, there is a clear first-order transition line that starts at the zero-field transition point and ends at an isolated critical point, which is in the two-dimensional Ising universality class. As the value of state q decreases, the corresponding critical field also decreases. The present results strongly suggest that the critical field vanishes when q→5^{+}. However, for negative fields, another first-order transition line occurs without any critical or multicritical behavior for q≥6. The special case with q=5 undergoes a weak first-order transition at zero field and a line of second-order transitions for negative fields. This second-order transition line is in the same universality class as the q=4 Potts model.
The spin-1 Ising model on the square lattice with nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic exchange interactions [both bilinear (JJJ) and biquadratic (KKK) and crystal-field interaction ($\ensuremath{\Delta}$) is studied via a renormalization-group transformation in position space. The phase diagram in JJJ, KKK, $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ space is found to have one surface of critical phase transitions and two surfaces of first-order phase transitions. These surfaces are variously bounded by an ordinary tricritical line, an isolated critical line, and a line of critical end points. These three lines joint at a special tricritical point corresponding to the transition of the three-state Potts model. The over-all phase diagram is qualitatively similar to that obtained with the mean-field approximation, except in the vicinity of the Potts transition where a four-phase coexistence line in mean-field theory shrinks into a special tricritical point in renormalization-group theory. Symmetry considerations guide the construction of our truncated renormalization-group transformation. The global connectivity and local exponents of the thirteen separate fixed points underlying this quite complicated structure are determined. Local analysis with respect to magnetic field (HHH) and another odd interaction (LLL) is performed. A one-adjusted-parameter version of our transformation yields remarkably quantitative results, predicting the Potts transition temperature, for example, within 0.3% of the exact value.