Possibly exact fractal dimensions from conformal invariance

Shortest path and Schramm-Loewner evolution

We numerically show that the statistical properties of the shortest path on critical percolation clusters are consistent with the ones predicted for Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) curves for κ = 1.04 ± 0.02. The shortest path results from a global optimization process. To identify it, one needs to explore an entire area. Establishing a relation with SLE permits to generate curves statistically equivalent to the shortest path from a Brownian motion. We numerically analyze the winding angle, the left passage probability, and the driving function of the shortest path and compare them to the distributions predicted for SLE curves with the same fractal dimension. The consistency with SLE opens the possibility of using a solid theoretical framework to describe the shortest path and it raises relevant questions regarding conformal invariance and domain Markov properties, which we also discuss.

Shortest-path fractal dimension for percolation in two and three dimensions

We carry out a high-precision Monte Carlo study of the shortest-path fractal dimension d(min) for percolation in two and three dimensions, using the Leath-Alexandrowicz method which grows a cluster from an active seed site. A variety of quantities are sampled as a function of the chemical distance, including the number of activated sites, a measure of the radius, and the survival probability. By finite-size scaling, we determine d(min)=1.13077(2) and 1.3756(6) in two and three dimensions, respectively. The result in two dimensions rules out the recently conjectured value d(min)=217/192 [Deng et al., Phys. Rev. E 81, 020102(R) (2010)].

Magnetic and backbone exponents of the percolation and Ising models in three dimensions

We investigate random-cluster representations of the q=1 - and 2-state Potts models in three dimensions, i.e., the bond-percolation and the Ising model, respectively. Using a recently developed sampling technique, we determine the probabilities C1 (r) and C2 (r) that a pair of lattice sites at a distance r are connected by at least one and two mutually independent paths, respectively. The scaling behavior of C1 and C2 at criticality is governed by the magnetic and the backbone scaling dimension X(h) and X(b) , respectively. From a finite-size analysis of the numerical data, we determine X(h) =0.4768 (7) and X(b) =1.125 (3) for the percolation and X(h) =0.5178 (7) and X(b) =0.829 (4) for the Ising model.

Backbone exponents of the two-dimensional q-state Potts model: a Monte Carlo investigation

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.