Susceptibility and percolation in two-dimensional random field Ising magnets

Critical nematic correlations throughout the superconducting doping range in Bi2-zPbzSr2-yLayCuO6+x

Charge modulations have been widely observed in cuprates, suggesting their centrality for understanding the high-T_c superconductivity in these materials. However, the dimensionality of these modulations remains controversial, including whether their wavevector is unidirectional or bidirectional, and also whether they extend seamlessly from the surface of the material into the bulk. Material disorder presents severe challenges to understanding the charge modulations through bulk scattering techniques. We use a local technique, scanning tunneling microscopy, to image the static charge modulations on Bi_2-zPb_zSr_2-yLa_yCuO_6+x. The ratio of the phase correlation length ξ_CDW to the orientation correlation length ξ_orient points to unidirectional charge modulations. By computing new critical exponents at free surfaces including that of the pair connectivity correlation function, we show that these locally 1D charge modulations are actually a bulk effect resulting from classical 3D criticality of the random field Ising model throughout the entire superconducting doping range.

Signatures of a Quantum Griffiths Phase Close to an Electronic Nematic Quantum Phase Transition

In the vicinity of a quantum critical point, quenched disorder can lead to a quantum Griffiths phase, accompanied by an exotic power-law scaling with a continuously varying dynamical exponent that diverges in the zero-temperature limit. Here, we investigate a nematic quantum critical point in the iron-based superconductor FeSe_{0.89}S_{0.11} using applied hydrostatic pressure. We report an unusual crossing of the magnetoresistivity isotherms in the nonsuperconducting normal state that features a continuously varying dynamical exponent over a large temperature range. We interpret our results in terms of a quantum Griffiths phase caused by nematic islands that result from the local distribution of Se and S atoms. At low temperatures, the Griffiths phase is masked by the emergence of a Fermi liquid phase due to a strong nematoelastic coupling and a Lifshitz transition that changes the topology of the Fermi surface.

Spin-reorientation critical dynamics in the two-dimensional XY model with a domain wall

In recent years, static and dynamic properties of non-180^{∘} domain walls in magnetic materials have attracted a great deal of interest. In this paper, spin-reorientation critical dynamics in the two-dimensional XY model is investigated with Monte Carlo simulations and theoretical analyses based on the Langevin equation. At the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition, the dynamic scaling behaviors of the magnetization and the two-time correlation function are carefully analyzed, and critical exponents are accurately determined. When the initial value of the angle between adjacent domains is slightly lower than π, a critical exponent is introduced to characterize the abnormal power-law increase of the magnetization in the horizontal direction inside the domain interface, which is measured to be ψ=0.0568(8). In addition, the relation ψ=η/2z is analytically deduced from the Langevin dynamics in the long-wavelength approximation, well consistent with numerical results.

Universality of Critically Pinned Interfaces in Two-Dimensional Isotropic Random Media

Based on extensive simulations, we conjecture that critically pinned interfaces in two-dimensional isotropic random media with short-range correlations are always in the universality class of ordinary percolation. Thus, in contrast to interfaces in >2 dimensions, there is no distinction between fractal (i.e., percolative) and rough but nonfractal interfaces. Our claim includes interfaces in zero-temperature random field Ising models (both with and without spontaneous nucleation), in heterogeneous bootstrap percolation, and in susceptible-weakened-infected-removed epidemics. It does not include models with long-range correlations in the randomness and models where overhangs are explicitly forbidden (which would imply nonisotropy of the medium).

Effect of increasing disorder on domains of the 2d Coulomb glass

We have studied a two dimensional lattice model of Coulomb glass for a wide range of disorders at [Formula: see text]. The system was first annealed using Monte Carlo simulation. Further minimization of the total energy of the system was done using an algorithm developed by Baranovskii et al, followed by cluster flipping to obtain the pseudo-ground states. We have shown that the energy required to create a domain of linear size L in d dimensions is proportional to [Formula: see text]. Using Imry-Ma arguments given for random field Ising model, one gets critical dimension [Formula: see text] for Coulomb glass. The investigation of domains in the transition region shows a discontinuity in staggered magnetization which is an indication of a first-order type transition from charge-ordered phase to disordered phase. The structure and nature of random field fluctuations of the second largest domain in Coulomb glass are inconsistent with the assumptions of Imry and Ma, as was also reported for random field Ising model. The study of domains showed that in the transition region there were mostly two large domains, and that as disorder was increased the two large domains remained, but a large number of small domains also opened up. We have also studied the properties of the second largest domain as a function of disorder. We furthermore analysed the effect of disorder on the density of states, and showed a transition from hard gap at low disorders to a soft gap at higher disorders. At [Formula: see text], we have analysed the soft gap in detail, and found that the density of states deviates slightly ([Formula: see text]) from the linear behaviour in two dimensions. Analysis of local minima show that the pseudo-ground states have similar structure.

Efficient numerical methods for the random-field Ising model: Finite-size scaling, reweighting extrapolation, and computation of response functions

It was recently shown [Phys. Rev. Lett. 110, 227201 (2013)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.110.227201] that the critical behavior of the random-field Ising model in three dimensions is ruled by a single universality class. This conclusion was reached only after a proper taming of the large scaling corrections of the model by applying a combined approach of various techniques, coming from the zero- and positive-temperature toolboxes of statistical physics. In the present contribution we provide a detailed description of this combined scheme, explaining in detail the zero-temperature numerical scheme and developing the generalized fluctuation-dissipation formula that allowed us to compute connected and disconnected correlation functions of the model. We discuss the error evolution of our method and we illustrate the infinite limit-size extrapolation of several observables within phenomenological renormalization. We present an extension of the quotients method that allows us to obtain estimates of the critical exponent α of the specific heat of the model via the scaling of the bond energy and we discuss the self-averaging properties of the system and the algorithmic aspects of the maximum-flow algorithm used.

Non-Porod behavior in systems with rough morphologies

Many experiments yield multi-scale morphologies which are smooth on some length scales and fractal on others. Accurate statements about morphological properties, e.g., roughness exponent, fractal dimension, domain size, interfacial width, etc. are obtained from the correlation function and structure factor. In this paper, we present structure factor data for two systems: (a) droplet-in-droplet morphologies of double-phase-separating mixtures; and (b) ground-state morphologies in dilute anti-ferromagnets. An important characteristic of the scattering data is a non-Porod tail, which is associated with scattering off rough domains and interfaces.

Ground-state morphologies in the random-field Ising model: scaling properties and non-Porod behavior

We use a computationally efficient graph-cut method (GCM) to obtain the ground-state morphologies (at zero temperature) of the random-field Ising model in d=2,3. The GCM enables us to obtain comprehensive numerical results on large-scale systems. We analyze the morphologies by computing correlation functions and structure factors. These quantities enable us to precisely evaluate characteristic properties, e.g., domain sizes, scaling functions, roughness exponents, fractal dimensions, etc.

Characterization of kinetic coarsening in a random-field Ising model

We report a study of nonequilibrium relaxation in a two-dimensional random field Ising model at a nonzero temperature. We attempt to observe the coarsening from a different perspective with a particular focus on three dynamical quantities that characterize the kinetic coarsening. We provide a simple generalized scaling relation of coarsening supported by numerical results. The excellent data collapse of the dynamical quantities justifies our proposition. The scaling relation corroborates the recent observation that the average linear domain size satisfies different scaling behavior in different time regimes.

Analysis of spanning avalanches in the two-dimensional nonequilibrium zero-temperature random-field Ising model

We present a numerical analysis of spanning avalanches in a two-dimensional (2D) nonequilibrium zero-temperature random field Ising model. Finite-size scaling analysis, performed for distribution of the average number of spanning avalanches per single run, spanning avalanche size distribution, average size of spanning avalanche, and contribution of spanning avalanches to magnetization jump, is augmented by analysis of spanning field (i.e., field triggering spanning avalanche), which enabled us to collapse averaged magnetization curves below critical disorder. Our study, based on extensive simulations of sufficiently large systems, reveals the dominant role of subcritical 2D-spanning avalanches in model behavior below and at the critical disorder. Other types of avalanches influence finite systems, but their contribution for large systems remains small or vanish.

Dynamical properties of random-field Ising model

Extensive Monte Carlo simulations are performed on a two-dimensional random field Ising model. The purpose of the present work is to study the disorder-induced changes in the properties of disordered spin systems. The time evolution of the domain growth, the order parameter, and the spin-spin correlation functions are studied in the nonequilibrium regime. The dynamical evolution of the order parameter and the domain growth shows a power law scaling with disorder-dependent exponents. It is observed that for weak random fields, the two-dimensional random field Ising model possesses long-range order. Except for weak disorder, exchange interaction never wins over pinning interaction to establish long-range order in the system.

Density of critical clusters in strips of strongly disordered systems

We consider two models with disorder-dominated critical points and study the distribution of clusters that are confined in strips and touch one or both boundaries. For the classical random bond Potts model in the large- q limit, we study optimal Fortuin-Kasteleyn clusters using a combinatorial optimization algorithm. For the random transverse-field Ising chain, clusters are defined and calculated through the strong-disorder renormalization group method. The numerically calculated density profiles close to the boundaries are shown to follow scaling predictions. For the random bond Potts model, we have obtained accurate numerical estimates for the critical exponents and demonstrated that the density profiles are well described by conformal formulas.

Correlation-space description of the percolation transition in composite microstructures

We explore the percolation threshold shift as short-range correlations are introduced and systematically varied in binary composites. Two complementary representations of the correlations are developed in terms of the distribution of phase bonds or, alternatively, using a set of appropriate short-range order parameters. In either case, systematic exploration of the correlation space reveals a boundary that separates percolating from nonpercolating structures and permits empirical equations that identify the location of the threshold for systems of arbitrary short-range correlation states. Two- and three-dimensional site lattices with two-body correlations, as well as a two-dimensional hexagonal bond network with three-body correlations, are explored. The approach presented here should be generalizable to more complex correlation states, including higher-order and longer-range correlations.

Geometrical clusters in two-dimensional random-field Ising models

We consider geometrical or Ising clusters (i.e., domains of parallel spins) in the square lattice random-field Ising model by varying the strength of the Gaussian random field Delta . In agreement with the conclusion of a previous investigation [Phys. Rev. E 63, 066109 (2001)], the geometrical correlation length, i.e., the average size of the clusters xi is finite for Delta>Delta_{c} approximately 1.65 and divergent for DeltaDelta_{c} . The scaling function of the distribution of the mass of the clusters as well as the geometrical correlation function are found to involve the scaling exponents of critical percolation. On the other hand, the divergence of the correlation length, xi(Delta) approximately (Delta-Delta_{c});{-nu} , with nu approximately 2 , is related to that of tricritical percolation. It is verified numerically that critical geometrical correlations transform conformally.

Disorder-induced rounding of the phase transition in the large-q-state Potts model

The phase transition in the q -state Potts model with homogeneous ferromagnetic couplings is strongly first order for large q, while it is rounded in the presence of quenched disorder. Here we study this phenomenon on different two-dimensional lattices by using the fact that the partition function of the model is dominated by a single diagram of the high-temperature expansion, which is calculated by an efficient combinatorial optimization algorithm. For a given finite sample with discrete randomness the free energy is a piecewise linear function of the temperature, which is rounded after averaging, however, the discontinuity of the internal energy at the transition point (i.e., the latent heat) stays finite even in the thermodynamic limit. For a continuous disorder, instead, the latent heat vanishes. At the phase transition point the dominant diagram percolates and the total magnetic moment is related to the size of the percolating cluster. Its fractal dimension is found d(f) = ( 5 + square root of 5)/4 and it is independent of the type of the lattice and the form of disorder. We argue that the critical behavior is exclusively determined by disorder and the corresponding fixed point is the isotropic version of the so-called infinite randomness fixed point, which is realized in random quantum spin chains. From this mapping we conjecture the values of the critical exponents as beta=2- d(f), beta(s) =1/2, and nu=1.

Correlation functions, free energies, and magnetizations in the two-dimensional random-field Ising model

Transfer-matrix methods are used to calculate spin-spin correlation functions (G), Helmholtz free energies (f) and magnetizations (m) in the two-dimensional random-field Ising model close to the zero-field bulk critical temperature T(c 0), on long strips of width L=3-18 sites, for binary field distributions. Analysis of the probability distributions of G for varying spin-spin distances R shows that describing the decay of their averaged values by effective correlation lengths is a valid procedure only for not very large R. Connections between field and correlation function distributions at high temperatures are established, yielding approximate analytical expressions for the latter, which are used for computation of the corresponding structure factor. It is shown that, for fixed R/L, the fractional widths of correlation-function distributions saturate asymptotically with L-2.2. Considering an added uniform applied field h, a connection between f(h), m(h), the Gibbs free energy g(m) and the distribution function for the uniform magnetization in a zero uniform field, P0(m), is derived and first illustrated for pure systems, and then applied for nonzero random field. From finite-size scaling and crossover arguments, coupled with numerical data, it is found that the width of P0(m) varies against (nonvanishing, but small) random-field intensity H0 as H(-3/7)(0).