Universality aspects of the d = 3 random-bond Blume-Capel model

Monte Carlo study of the interfacial adsorption of the Blume-Capel model

We investigate the scaling of the interfacial adsorption of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model using Monte Carlo simulations. In particular, we study the finite-size scaling behavior of the interfacial adsorption of the pure model at both its first- and second-order transition regimes, as well as at the vicinity of the tricritical point. Our analysis benefits from the currently existing quite accurate estimates of the relevant (tri)critical-point locations. In all studied cases, the numerical results verify to a level of high accuracy the expected scenarios derived from analytic free-energy scaling arguments. We also investigate the size dependence of the interfacial adsorption under the presence of quenched bond randomness at the originally first-order transition regime (disorder-induced continuous transition) and the relevant self-averaging properties of the system. For this ex-first-order regime, where strong transient effects are shown to be present, our findings support the scenario of a non-divergent scaling, similar to that found in the original second-order transition regime of the pure model.

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.

Dynamic phase transition of the Blume-Capel model in an oscillating magnetic field

We employ numerical simulations and finite-size scaling techniques to investigate the properties of the dynamic phase transition that is encountered in the Blume-Capel model subjected to a periodically oscillating magnetic field. We mainly focus on the study of the two-dimensional system for various values of the crystal-field coupling in the second-order transition regime. Our results indicate that the present nonequilibrium phase transition belongs to the universality class of the equilibrium Ising model and allow us to construct a dynamic phase diagram, in analogy with the equilibrium case, at least for the range of parameters considered. Finally, we present some complementary results for the three-dimensional model, where again the obtained estimates for the critical exponents fall into the universality class of the corresponding three-dimensional equilibrium Ising ferromagnet.

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.

Parallel multicanonical study of the three-dimensional Blume-Capel model

We study the thermodynamic properties of the three-dimensional Blume-Capel model on the simple cubic lattice by means of computer simulations. In particular, we implement a parallelized variant of the multicanonical approach and perform simulations by keeping a constant temperature and crossing the phase boundary along the crystal-field axis. We obtain numerical data for several temperatures in both the first- and second-order regime of the model. Finite-size scaling analyses provide us with transition points and the dimensional scaling behavior in the numerically demanding first-order regime, as well as a clear verification of the expected Ising universality in the respective second-order regime. Finally, we discuss the scaling behavior in the vicinity of the tricritical point.

Critical behavior of the three-dimensional Ising model with anisotropic bond randomness at the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition line

We study the ±J three-dimensional (3D) Ising model with a spatially uniaxial anisotropic bond randomness on the simple cubic lattice. The ±J random exchange is applied on the xy planes, whereas, in the z direction, only a ferromagnetic exchange is used. After sketching the phase diagram and comparing it with the corresponding isotropic case, the system is studied at the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition line using parallel tempering and a convenient concentration of antiferromagnetic bonds (p(z)=0;p(xy)=0.176). The numerical data clearly point out a second-order ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition belonging in the same universality class with the 3D random Ising model. The smooth finite-size behavior of the effective exponents, describing the peaks of the logarithmic derivatives of the order parameter, provides an accurate estimate of the critical exponent 1/ν=1.463(3), and a collapse analysis of magnetization data gives an estimate of β/ν=0.516(7). These results are in agreement with previous papers and, in particular, with those of the isotropic ±J three-dimensional Ising model at the ferromagnetic-paramagnetic transition line, indicating the irrelevance of the introduced anisotropy.

Quenched disorder: demixing thermal and disorder fluctuations

We present a finite-size scaling study of the phase transition in the two-dimensional Potts model modified by random bond disorder, in which the average is taken over quantities calculated at quasicritical temperatures of individual disorder configurations. We used the recently proposed equilibrium-like invaded cluster algorithm, which allows us to examine separately the fluctuations in the thermodynamical ensemble from the fluctuations induced by changing the disorder configuration. We point out the crucial role of the spatial inhomogeneities on all scales for the critical behavior of the system. These inhomogeneities are formed by "dressing" of the disorder via critical correlations and are demonstrated to exist for any system size despite the critical fluctuations in thermodynamical ensemble. Such inhomogeneities were previously not thought to be relevant in disorder-altered classical systems when critical temperature is finite. However, we confirm that only by averaging at quasicritical temperatures of each disorder configuration is the thermal critical exponent y(τ) not obscured by the influence of the aforementioned spatial inhomogeneities.

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.