Universality and straight phi(4) theory of finite-size effects above the upper critical dimension

Crossover from low-temperature to high-temperature fluctuations: Universal and nonuniversal Casimir forces of isotropic and anisotropic systems

We study the crossover from low-temperature to high-temperature fluctuations including Goldstone-dominated and critical fluctuations in confined isotropic and weakly anisotropic O(n)-symmetric systems on the basis of a finite-size renormalization-group approach at fixed dimension d introduced previously [V. Dohm, Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 107207 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.110.107207]. Our theory is formulated within the φ^{4} lattice model in a d-dimensional block geometry with periodic boundary conditions. We calculate the finite-size scaling functions F^{ex} and X of the excess free-energy density and the thermodynamic Casimir force, respectively, for 1≤n≤∞, 2<d<4. Exact results are derived for n→∞. Applications are given for L_{∥}^{d-1}×L slab geometry with an aspect ratio ρ=L/L_{∥}>0 and for film geometry (ρ=0). Good overall agreement is found with Monte Carlo (MC) data for isotropic spin models with n=1,2,3. For ρ=0, the low-temperature limits of F^{ex} and X vanish for n=1, whereas they are finite for n≥2. For ρ>0 and n=1, we find a finite low-temperature limit of F^{ex}, which deviates from that of the Ising model. We attribute this deviation to the nonuniversal difference between the φ^{4} model with continuous variables and the Ising model with discrete variables. For n≥2 and ρ>0, a logarithmic divergence of F^{ex} in the low-temperature limit is predicted, in excellent agreement with MC data. For 2≤n≤∞ and ρ<ρ_{0}=0.8567 the Goldstone modes generate a negative low-temperature Casimir force that vanishes for ρ=ρ_{0} and becomes positive for ρ>ρ_{0}. For anisotropic systems a unified hypothesis of multiparameter universality is introduced for both bulk and confined systems. The dependence of their scaling functions on d(d+1)/2-1 microscopic anisotropy parameters implies a substantial reduction of the predictive power of the theory for anisotropic systems as compared to isotropic systems. An exact representation is derived for the nonuniversal large-distance behavior of the bulk correlation function of anisotropic systems and quantitative predictions are made. The validity of multiparameter universality is proven analytically for the d=2,n=1 universality class. A nonuniversal anisotropy-dependent minimum of the Casimir force scaling function X is found. Both the sign and magnitude of X and the shift of the film critical temperature are affected by the lattice anisotropy.

Diversity of critical behavior within a universality class

We study spatial anisotropy effects on the bulk and finite-size critical behavior of the O(n) symmetric anisotropic phi;{4} lattice model with periodic boundary conditions in a d -dimensional hypercubic geometry above, at, and below Tc. The absence of two-scale factor universality is discussed for the bulk order-parameter correlation function, the bulk scattering intensity, and for several universal bulk amplitude relations. The anisotropy parameters are observable by scattering experiments at Tc. For the confined system, renormalization-group theory within the minimal subtraction scheme at fixed dimension d for 2<d<4 is employed. In contrast to the epsilon=4-d expansion, the fixed- d finite-size approach keeps the exponential form of the order-parameter distribution function unexpanded. For the case of cubic symmetry and for n=1 , our perturbation approach yields excellent agreement with the Monte Carlo (MC) data for the finite-size amplitude of the free energy of the three-dimensional Ising model at Tc by Mon [Phys. Rev. Lett. 54, 2671 (1985)]. The epsilon expansion result is in less good agreement. Below Tc, a minimum of the scaling function of the excess free energy is found. We predict a measurable dependence of this minimum on the anisotropy parameters. The relative anisotropy effect on the free energy is predicted to be significantly larger than that on the Binder cumulant. Our theory agrees quantitatively with the nonmonotonic dependence of the Binder cumulant on the ferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) coupling of the two-dimensional Ising model found by MC simulations of Selke and Shchur [J. Phys. A 38, L739 (2005)]. Our theory also predicts a nonmonotonic dependence for small values of the antiferromagnetic NNN coupling and the existence of a Lifshitz point at a larger value of this coupling. The nonuniversal anisotropy effects in the finite-size scaling regime are predicted to satisfy a kind of restricted universality. The tails of the large- L behavior at T++Tc violate both finite-size scaling and universality even for isotropic systems as they depend on the bare four-point coupling of the phi4 theory, on the cutoff procedure, and on subleading long-range interactions.

Finite-size scaling of directed percolation in the steady state

Recently, considerable progress has been made in understanding finite-size scaling in equilibrium systems. Here, we study finite-size scaling in nonequilibrium systems at the instance of directed percolation (DP), which has become the paradigm of nonequilibrium phase transitions into absorbing states, above, at, and below the upper critical dimension. We investigate the finite-size scaling behavior of DP analytically and numerically by considering its steady state generated by a homogeneous constant external source on a d-dimensional hypercube of finite edge length L with periodic boundary conditions near the bulk critical point. In particular, we study the order parameter and its higher moments using renormalized field theory. We derive finite-size scaling forms of the moments in a one-loop calculation. Moreover, we introduce and calculate a ratio of the order parameter moments that plays a similar role in the analysis of finite size scaling in absorbing nonequilibrium processes as the famous Binder cumulant in equilibrium systems and that, in particular, provides a signature of the DP universality class. To complement our analytical work, we perform Monte Carlo simulations which confirm our analytical results.

Finite-size scaling of the d=5 Ising model embedded in a cylindrical geometry: the influence of hyperscaling violation

Finite-size scaling (FSS) of the five-dimensional (d=5) Ising model is investigated numerically. Because of the hyperscaling violation in d>4 , FSS of the d=5 Ising model no longer obeys the conventional scaling relation. Rather, it is expected that the FSS behavior depends on the geometry of the embedding space (boundary condition). In this paper, we consider a cylindrical geometry and explore its influence on the correlation length xi=L;{Omega}f(L;{y_{t};{*}},HL;{y_{h};{*}}) with system size L , reduced temperature , and magnetic field H ; the indices y_{t,h};{*} and Omega characterize FSS. For that purpose, we employed the transfer-matrix method with Novotny's technique, which enables us to treat an arbitrary (integral) number of spins, N=8,10,...,28 ; note that, conventionally, N is restricted in N(=L;{d-1})=16,81,256,... . As a result, we estimate the scaling indices as Omega=1.40(15) , y_{t};{*}=2.8(2) , and y_{h};{*}=4.3(1) . Additionally, postulating Omega=43 , we arrive at y_{t};{*}=2.67(10) and y_{h};{*}=4.0(2) . These indices differ from the naively expected ones Omega=1 , y_{t};{*}=2 and y_{h};{*}=3 . Rather, our data support the generic formulas Omega=(d-1)3 , y_{t};{*}=2(d-1)3 , and y_{h};{*}=d-1 , advocated for a cylindrical geometry in d4 .

Finite-size scaling of directed percolation above the upper critical dimension

We consider analytically as well as numerically the finite-size scaling behavior in the stationary state near the nonequilibrium phase transition of directed percolation within the mean field regime, i.e., above the upper critical dimension. Analogous to equilibrium, usual finite-size scaling is valid below the upper critical dimension, whereas it fails above. Performing a momentum analysis of associated path integrals we derive modified finite-size scaling forms of the order parameter and its higher moments. The results are confirmed by numerical simulations of corresponding high-dimensional lattice models.

Scaling and nonscaling finite-size effects in the Gaussian and the mean spherical model with free boundary conditions

We calculate finite-size effects of the Gaussian model in a Lx(d-1) box geometry with free boundary conditions in one direction and periodic boundary conditions in d-1 directions for 2<d<4. We also consider film geometry (L--> infinity ). Finite-size scaling is found to be valid for d<3 and d>3 but logarithmic deviations from finite-size scaling are found for the free energy and energy density at the Gaussian upper borderline dimension d*=3. The logarithms are related to the vanishing critical exponent 1-alpha-nu=(d-3)/2 of the Gaussian surface energy density. The latter has a cusplike singularity in d>3 dimensions. We show that these properties are the origin of nonscaling finite-size effects in the mean spherical model with free boundary conditions in d > or =3 dimensions. At bulk T(c), in d=3 dimensions we find an unexpected nonlogarithmic violation of finite-size scaling for the susceptibility chi approximately L3 of the mean spherical model in film geometry, whereas only a logarithmic deviation chi approximately L2 ln L exists for box geometry. The result for film geometry is explained by the existence of the lower borderline dimension d(l)=3, as implied by the Mermin-Wagner theorem, that coincides with the Gaussian upper borderline dimension d*=3. For 3<d<4 we find a power-law violation of scaling chi approximately L(d-1) at bulk T(c) for box geometry and a nonscaling temperature dependence chi(surface) approximately xi(d) of the surface susceptibility above T(c). For 2<d<3 dimensions we show the validity of universal finite-size scaling for the susceptibility of the mean spherical model with free boundary conditions for both box and film geometry and calculate the corresponding universal scaling functions for T > or =T(c).