Universal dependence on disorder of two-dimensional randomly diluted and random-bond +/-J Ising models

Critical dynamics of cluster algorithms in the random-bond Ising model

In the present work, we present an extensive Monte Carlo simulation study on the dynamical properties of the two-dimensional random-bond Ising model. The correlation time τ of the Swendsen-Wang and Wolff cluster algorithms is calculated at the critical point. The dynamic critical exponent z of both algorithms is also measured by using the numerical data for several lattice sizes up to L=512. It is found for both algorithms that the autocorrelation time decreases considerably and the critical slowing-down effect reduces upon the introduction of bond disorder. Additionally, simulations with the Metropolis algorithm are performed, and the critical slowing-down effect is observed to be more pronounced in the presence of disorder, confirming the previous findings in the literature. Moreover, the existence of the non-self-averaging property of the model is demonstrated by calculating the scaled form of the standard deviation of autocorrelation times. Finally, the critical exponent ratio of the magnetic susceptibility is estimated by using the average cluster size of the Wolff algorithm.

Nonequilibrium critical dynamics of the two-dimensional ±J Ising model

The ±J Ising model is a simple frustrated spin model, where the exchange couplings independently take the discrete value -J with probability p and +J with probability 1-p. It is especially appealing due to its connection to quantum error correcting codes. Here, we investigate the nonequilibrium critical behavior of the two-dimensional ±J Ising model, after a quench from different initial conditions to a critical point T_{c}(p) on the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic (PF) transition line, especially above, below, and at the multicritical Nishimori point (NP). The dynamical critical exponent z_{c} seems to exhibit nonuniversal behavior for quenches above and below the NP, which is identified as a preasymptotic feature due to the repulsive fixed point at the NP, whereas for a quench directly to the NP, the dynamics reaches the asymptotic regime with z_{c}≃6.02(6). We also consider the geometrical spin clusters (of like spin signs) during the critical dynamics. Each universality class on the PF line is uniquely characterized by the stochastic Loewner evolution with corresponding parameter κ. Moreover, for the critical quenches from the paramagnetic phase, the model, irrespective of the frustration, exhibits an emergent critical percolation topology at the large length scales.

Random-bond antiferromagnetic Ising model in a field

Using combinatorial optimization techniques we study the critical properties of the two- and three-dimensional Ising models with uniformly distributed random antiferromagnetic couplings (1≤J_{i}≤2) in the presence of a homogeneous longitudinal field, h, at zero temperature. In finite systems of linear size, L, we measure the average correlation function, C_{L}(ℓ,h), when the sites are either on the same sublattice, or they belong to different sublattices. The phase transition, which is of first order in the pure system, turns to mixed order in two dimensions with critical exponents 1/ν≈0.5 and η≈0.7. In three dimensions we obtain 1/ν≈0.7, which is compatible with the value of the random-field Ising model, but we cannot discriminate between second-order and mixed-order transitions.

Finite-size scaling at fixed renormalization-group invariant

Finite-size scaling at fixed renormalization-group invariant is a powerful and flexible technique to analyze Monte Carlo data at a critical point. It consists in fixing a given renormalization-group invariant quantity to a given value, thereby trading its statistical fluctuations with those of a parameter driving the transition. One remarkable feature is the observed significant improvement of statistical accuracy of various quantities, as compared to a standard analysis. We review the method, discussing in detail its implementation, the error analysis, and a previously introduced covariance-based optimization. Comprehensive benchmarks on the Ising model in two and three dimensions show large gains in the statistical accuracy, which are due to cross-correlations between observables. As an application, we compute an accurate estimate of the inverse critical temperature of the improved O(2) ϕ^{4} model on a three-dimensional cubic lattice.

Comparison of cluster algorithms for the bond-diluted Ising model

Monte Carlo cluster algorithms are popular for their efficiency in studying the Ising model near its critical temperature. We might expect that this efficiency extends to the bond-diluted Ising model. We show, however, that this is not always the case by comparing how the correlation times τ_{w} and τ_{sw} of the Wolff and Swendsen-Wang cluster algorithms scale as a function of the system size L when applied to the two-dimensional bond-diluted Ising model. We demonstrate that the Wolff algorithm suffers from a much longer correlation time than in the pure Ising model, caused by isolated (groups of) spins which are infrequently visited by the algorithm. With a simple argument we prove that these cause the correlation time τ_{w} to be bounded from below by L^{z_{w}} with a dynamical exponent z_{w}=γ/ν≈1.75 for a bond concentration p<1. Furthermore, we numerically show that this lower bound is actually taken for several values of p in the range 0.5<p<1. Moreover, we show that the Swendsen-Wang algorithm does not suffer from the same problem. Consequently, it has a much shorter correlation time, shorter than in the pure Ising model even. Numerically at p=0.6, we find that its dynamical exponent is z_{sw}=0.09(4).

Monte Carlo study of the two-dimensional kinetic Blume-Capel model in a quenched random crystal field

We investigate by means of Monte Carlo simulations the dynamic phase transition of the two-dimensional kinetic Blume-Capel model under a periodically oscillating magnetic field in the presence of a quenched random crystal-field coupling. We analyze the universality principles of this dynamic transition for various values of the crystal-field coupling at the originally second-order regime of the corresponding equilibrium phase diagram of the model. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis indicates that the observed nonequilibrium phase transition belongs to the universality class of the equilibrium Ising ferromagnet with additional logarithmic corrections in the scaling behavior of the heat capacity. Our results are in agreement with earlier works on kinetic Ising models.

Boundary Critical Behavior of the Three-Dimensional Heisenberg Universality Class

We study the boundary critical behavior of the three-dimensional Heisenberg universality class, in the presence of a bidimensional surface. By means of high-precision Monte Carlo simulations of an improved lattice model, where leading bulk scaling corrections are suppressed, we prove the existence of a special phase transition, with unusual exponents, and of an extraordinary phase with logarithmically decaying correlations. These findings contrast with naïve arguments on the bulk-surface phase diagram, and allow us to explain some recent puzzling results on the boundary critical behavior of quantum spin models.

Ising universality in the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model with quenched random crystal field

Using high-precision Monte Carlo simulations based on a parallel version of the Wang-Landau algorithm and finite-size scaling techniques, we study the effect of quenched disorder in the crystal-field coupling of the Blume-Capel model on a square lattice. We mainly focus on the part of the phase diagram where the pure model undergoes a continuous transition, known to fall into the universality class of a pure Ising ferromagnet. A dedicated scaling analysis reveals concrete evidence in favor of the strong universality hypothesis with the presence of additional logarithmic corrections in the scaling of the specific heat. Our results are in agreement with an early real-space renormalization-group study of the model as well as a very recent numerical work where quenched randomness was introduced in the energy exchange coupling. Finally, by properly fine tuning the control parameters of the randomness distribution we also qualitatively investigate the part of the phase diagram where the pure model undergoes a first-order phase transition. For this region, preliminary evidence indicate a smoothing of the transition to second-order with the presence of strong scaling corrections.

Super slowing down in the bond-diluted Ising model

In models in statistical physics, the dynamics often slows down tremendously near the critical point. Usually, the correlation time τ at the critical point increases with system size L in power-law fashion: τ∼L^{z}, which defines the critical dynamical exponent z. We show that this also holds for the two-dimensional bond-diluted Ising model in the regime p>p_{c}, where p is the parameter denoting the bond concentration, but with a dynamical critical exponent z(p) which shows a strong p dependence. Moreover, we show numerically that z(p), as obtained from the autocorrelation of the total magnetization, diverges when the percolation threshold p_{c}=1/2 is approached: z(p)-z(1)∼(p-p_{c})^{-2}. We refer to this observed extremely fast increase of the correlation time with size as super slowing down. Independent measurement data from the mean-square deviation of the total magnetization, which exhibits anomalous diffusion at the critical point, support this result.

Dynamic phase transitions in the presence of quenched randomness

We present an extensive study of the effects of quenched disorder on the dynamic phase transitions of kinetic spin models in two dimensions. We undertake a numerical experiment performing Monte Carlo simulations of the square-lattice random-bond Ising and Blume-Capel models under a periodically oscillating magnetic field. For the case of the Blume-Capel model we analyze the universality principles of the dynamic disordered-induced continuous transition at the low-temperature regime of the phase diagram. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis indicates that both nonequilibrium phase transitions belong to the universality class of the corresponding equilibrium random Ising model.

Universality from disorder in the random-bond Blume-Capel model

Using high-precision Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling we study the effect of quenched disorder in the exchange couplings on the Blume-Capel model on the square lattice. The first-order transition for large crystal-field coupling is softened to become continuous, with a divergent correlation length. An analysis of the scaling of the correlation length as well as the susceptibility and specific heat reveals that it belongs to the universality class of the Ising model with additional logarithmic corrections which is also observed for the Ising model itself if coupled to weak disorder. While the leading scaling behavior of the disordered system is therefore identical between the second-order and first-order segments of the phase diagram of the pure model, the finite-size scaling in the ex-first-order regime is affected by strong transient effects with a crossover length scale L^{*}≈32 for the chosen parameters.

Two-dimensional Ising model on random lattices with constant coordination number

We study the two-dimensional Ising model on networks with quenched topological (connectivity) disorder. In particular, we construct random lattices of constant coordination number and perform large-scale Monte Carlo simulations in order to obtain critical exponents using finite-size scaling relations. We find disorder-dependent effective critical exponents, similar to diluted models, showing thus no clear universal behavior. Considering the very recent results for the two-dimensional Ising model on proximity graphs and the coordination number correlation analysis suggested by Barghathi and Vojta [Phys. Rev. Lett. 113, 120602 (2014)PRLTAO0031-900710.1103/PhysRevLett.113.120602], our results indicate that the planarity and connectedness of the lattice play an important role on deciding whether the phase transition is stable against quenched topological disorder.

Self-averaging in the random two-dimensional Ising ferromagnet

We study sample-to-sample fluctuations in a critical two-dimensional Ising model with quenched random ferromagnetic couplings. Using replica calculations in the renormalization group framework we derive explicit expressions for the probability distribution function of the critical internal energy and for the specific heat fluctuations. It is shown that the disorder distribution of internal energies is Gaussian, and the typical sample-to-sample fluctuations as well as the average value scale with the system size L like ∼Llnln(L). In contrast, the specific heat is shown to be self-averaging with a distribution function that tends to a δ peak in the thermodynamic limit L→∞. While previously a lack of self-averaging was found for the free energy, we here obtain results for quantities that are directly measurable in simulations, and implications for measurements in the actual lattice system are discussed.

Critical behavior of the spin-1 Blume-Capel model on two-dimensional Voronoi-Delaunay random lattices

The critical properties of the spin-1 Blume-Capel model in two dimensions is studied on Voronoi-Delaunay random lattices with quenched connectivity disorder. The system is treated by applying Monte Carlo simulations using the heat-bath update algorithm together with single histograms re-weighting techniques. We calculate the critical temperature as well as the critical exponents as a function of the crystal field Δ. It is found that this disordered system exhibits phase transitions of first- and second-order types that depend on the value of the crystal field. For values of Δ≤3, where the nearest-neighbor exchange interaction J has been set to unity, the disordered system presents a second-order phase transition. The results suggest that the corresponding exponent ratio belongs to the same universality class as the regular two-dimensional ferromagnetic model. There exists a tricritical point close to Δt=3.05(4) with different critical exponents. For Δt≤Δ<3.4 this model undergoes a first-order phase transition. Finally, for Δ≥3.4 the system is always in the paramagnetic phase.

Critical Casimir force in the presence of random local adsorption preference

We study the critical Casimir force for a film geometry in the Ising universality class. We employ a homogeneous adsorption preference on one of the confining surfaces, while the opposing surface exhibits quenched random disorder, leading to a random local adsorption preference. Disorder is characterized by a parameter p, which measures, on average, the portion of the surface that prefers one component, so that p=0,1 correspond to homogeneous adsorption preference. By means of Monte Carlo simulations of an improved Hamiltonian and finite-size scaling analysis, we determine the critical Casimir force. We show that by tuning the disorder parameter p, the system exhibits a crossover between an attractive and a repulsive force. At p=1/2, disorder allows to effectively realize Dirichlet boundary conditions, which are generically not accessible in classical fluids. Our results are relevant for the experimental realizations of the critical Casimir force in binary liquid mixtures.

Griffiths phase and critical behavior of the two-dimensional Potts models with long-range correlated disorder

The q-state Potts model with long-range correlated disorder is studied by means of large-scale Monte Carlo simulations for q=2, 4, 8, and 16. Evidence is given of the existence of a Griffiths phase, where the thermodynamic quantities display an algebraic finite-size scaling, in a finite range of temperatures. The critical exponents are shown to depend on both the temperature and the exponent of the algebraic decay of disorder correlations, but not on the number of states of the Potts model. The mechanism leading to the violation of hyperscaling relations is observed in the entire Griffiths phase.

Numerical studies on critical properties of the Kosterlitz-Thouless phase for the gauge glass model in two dimensions

The critical exponents are estimated for the gauge glass model in two dimensions, in which only the Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase appears in the low-temperature regime. The nonequilibrium relaxation method is applied to estimate the transition temperature and critical exponents: the static exponent η and the dynamical exponent z. Since the system exhibits criticality in the whole KT phase, we estimate the exponents on the boundary as well as inside the KT phase. The static exponent η depends on both the temperature and the strength of randomness, while the dynamical one z is almost constant throughout the KT phase, including the boundary.

Monte Carlo study of the triangular Blume-Capel model under bond randomness

The effects of bond randomness on the universality aspects of a two-dimensional (d = 2) Blume-Capel model embedded in the triangular lattice are discussed. The system is studied numerically in both its first- and second-order phase-transition regimes by a comprehensive finite-size scaling analysis for a particularly suitable value of the disorder strength. We find that our data for the second-order phase transition, emerging under random bonds from the second-order regime of the pure model, are compatible with the universality class of the two-dimensional (2D) random Ising model. Furthermore, we find evidence that, the second-order transition emerging under bond randomness from the first-order regime of the pure model, belongs again to the same universality class. Although the first finding reinforces the scenario of strong universality in the 2D Ising model with quenched disorder, the second is in difference from the critical behavior, emerging under randomness, in the cases of the ex-first-order transitions of the Potts model. Finally, our results verify previous renormalization-group calculations on the Blume-Capel model with disorder in the crystal-field coupling.

Critical behavior of repulsively interacting particles adsorbed on disordered triangular lattices

A simple model for amorphous solids, consisting of a triangular lattice with a fraction of attenuated bonds randomly distributed (which simulate the presence of defects in the surface), is used here to find out, by using grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations, how the adsorption thermodynamics of repulsively interacting monomers is modified with respect to the same process in the regular lattice. The degree of disorder of the surface is tunable by selecting the values of (1) the fraction of attenuated bonds ρ (0 ≤ρ≤ 1) and (2) the attenuation factor r (0 ≤r≤ 1), where r is defined as the ratio between the value of the lateral interaction associated to an attenuated bond and that corresponding to a regular bond. Adsorption isotherm and differential heat of adsorption calculations have been carried out showing and interpreting the effects of the disorder. A rich variety of behavior has been observed for different values of ρ and r, varying between two limit cases: bond-diluted lattices (r = 0 and ρ≠ 0) and regular lattices (r = 1 and any value of ρ). In addition, the critical behavior of the system was studied, showing that the order-disorder phase transition observed for the regular lattice survives, though with modifications, above a critical curve (ρ-r-temperature).

Universality of the glassy transitions in the two-dimensional ±J Ising model

We investigate the zero-temperature glassy transitions in the square-lattice ±J Ising model, with bond distribution P(J{xy})=pδ(J{xy}-J)+(1-p)δ(J{xy}+J) ; p=1 and p=1/2 correspond to the pure Ising model and to the Ising spin glass with symmetric bimodal distribution, respectively. We present finite-temperature Monte Carlo simulations at p=4/5 , which is close to the low-temperature paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition line located at p≈0.89 , and at p=1/2 . Their comparison provides a strong evidence that the glassy critical behavior that occurs for 1-p{0}<p<p{0} , p{0}≈0.897 , is universal, i.e., independent of p . Moreover, we show that glassy and magnetic modes are not coupled at the multicritical zero-temperature point where the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition line and the T=0 glassy transition line meet. On the theoretical side we discuss the validity of finite-size scaling in glassy systems with a zero-temperature transition and a discrete Hamiltonian spectrum. Because of a freezing phenomenon which occurs in a finite volume at sufficiently low temperatures, the standard finite-size scaling limit in terms of TL(1/ν) does not exist; the renormalization-group invariant quantity ξ/L should be used instead as basic variable.

Critical behavior of the pure and random-bond two-dimensional triangular Ising ferromagnet

We investigate the effects of quenched bond randomness on the critical properties of the two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model embedded in a triangular lattice. The system is studied in both the pure and disordered versions by the same efficient two-stage Wang-Landau method. In the first part of our study, we present the finite-size scaling behavior of the pure model, for which we calculate the critical amplitude of the specific heat's logarithmic expansion. For the disordered system, the numerical data and the relevant detailed finite-size scaling analysis along the lines of the two well-known scenarios-logarithmic corrections versus weak universality--strongly support the field-theoretically predicted scenario of logarithmic corrections. A particular interest is paid to the sample-to-sample fluctuations of the random model and their scaling behavior that are used as a successful alternative approach to criticality.

Multicritical points and crossover mediating the strong violation of universality: Wang-Landau determinations in the random-bond d=2 Blume-Capel model

The effects of bond randomness on the phase diagram and critical behavior of the square lattice ferromagnetic Blume-Capel model are discussed. The system is studied in both the pure and disordered versions by the same efficient two-stage Wang-Landau method for many values of the crystal field, restricted here in the second-order phase-transition regime of the pure model. For the random-bond version several disorder strengths are considered. We present phase diagram points of both pure and random versions and for a particular disorder strength we locate the emergence of the enhancement of ferromagnetic order observed in an earlier study in the ex-first-order regime. The critical properties of the pure model are contrasted and compared to those of the random model. Accepting, for the weak random version, the assumption of the double-logarithmic scenario for the specific heat we attempt to estimate the range of universality between the pure and random-bond models. The behavior of the strong disorder regime is also discussed and a rather complex and yet not fully understood behavior is observed. It is pointed out that this complexity is related to the ground-state structure of the random-bond version.

Strong violation of critical phenomena universality: Wang-Landau study of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model under bond randomness

We study the pure and random-bond versions of the square lattice ferromagnetic Blume-Capel model, in both the first-order and second-order phase transition regimes of the pure model. Phase transition temperatures, thermal and magnetic critical exponents are determined for lattice sizes in the range L=20-100 via a sophisticated two-stage numerical strategy of entropic sampling in dominant energy subspaces, using mainly the Wang-Landau algorithm. The second-order phase transition, emerging under random bonds from the second-order regime of the pure model, has the same values of critical exponents as the two-dimensional Ising universality class, with the effect of the bond disorder on the specific heat being well described by double-logarithmic corrections, our findings thus supporting the marginal irrelevance of quenched bond randomness. On the other hand, the second-order transition, emerging under bond randomness from the first-order regime of the pure model, has a distinctive universality class with nu=1.30(6) and beta/nu = 0.128(5) . These results amount to a strong violation of universality principle of critical phenomena, since these two second-order transitions, with different sets of critical exponents, are between the same ferromagnetic and paramagnetic phases. Furthermore, the latter of these two sets of results supports an extensive but weak universality, since it has the same magnetic critical exponent (but a different thermal critical exponent) as a wide variety of two-dimensional systems with and without quenched disorder. In the conversion by bond randomness of the first-order transition of the pure system to second order, we detect, by introducing and evaluating connectivity spin densities, a microsegregation that also explains the increase we find in the phase transition temperature under bond randomness.

Scaling analysis of the site-diluted Ising model in two dimensions

A combination of recent numerical and theoretical advances are applied to analyze the scaling behavior of the site-diluted Ising model in two dimensions, paying special attention to the implications for multiplicative logarithmic corrections. The analysis focuses primarily on the odd sector of the model (i.e., that associated with magnetic exponents), and in particular on its Lee-Yang zeros, which are determined to high accuracy. Scaling relations are used to connect to the even (thermal) sector, and a first analysis of the density of zeros yields information on the specific heat and its corrections. The analysis is fully supportive of the strong scaling hypothesis and of the scaling relations for logarithmic corrections.