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Statistical Field Theory: Example Sheet 1

1. The partition function of the 1D Ising model can be written in terms of the transfer matrix T. The eigenvalues of T determine the behavior of the partition function as N goes to infinity. For B=0, there is no phase transition as a function of temperature. 2. Mean field theory approximates the Ising model by assuming small deviations from the equilibrium magnetization m. This leads to a self-consistency condition for m involving temperature and interaction strength. For B=0, the solution differs above and below the critical temperature Tc. 3. In the long range Ising model where each spin interacts with all others, mean field theory becomes exact. The partition function can be evaluated using a

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German Chiappe
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43 views

Statistical Field Theory: Example Sheet 1

1. The partition function of the 1D Ising model can be written in terms of the transfer matrix T. The eigenvalues of T determine the behavior of the partition function as N goes to infinity. For B=0, there is no phase transition as a function of temperature. 2. Mean field theory approximates the Ising model by assuming small deviations from the equilibrium magnetization m. This leads to a self-consistency condition for m involving temperature and interaction strength. For B=0, the solution differs above and below the critical temperature Tc. 3. In the long range Ising model where each spin interacts with all others, mean field theory becomes exact. The partition function can be evaluated using a

Uploaded by

German Chiappe
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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Statistical Field Theory: Example Sheet 1

David Tong, October 2018

1. The purpose of this question is to solve the 1d Ising model with N spins, using
periodic boundary conditions such that sN +1 = s1 . The partition function is given by
 
X X Y βB
Z= ... exp βJsi si+1 + (si + si+1 )
s =±1 s =±1 i
2
1 N

Show that the partition can be written as in terms of the 2 × 2 transfer matrix T as
!
βJ−βB −βJ
e e
Z = tr T N with T =
e−βJ eβJ+βB

[Hint: Think of the ith transfer matrix in the string T N using index notation, written
as Tsi ,si+1 = exp βJsi si+1 + βB

2
(s i + s i+1 ) . Here si = ±1 labels the column and
si+1 = ±1 labels the row.]

Show that the eigenvalues of T are given by


q
λ± = eβJ cosh βB ± e2βJ cosh2 βB − 2 sinh 2βJ

and hence that, as N → ∞, the partition function is Z ≈ λN


+ . Use this to show that, for
B = 0, the magnetisation always vanishes and hence that there is no phase transition
as a function of temperature.

2. This question provides an alternative, mean field approach to the Ising model. (This
is, in fact, the original approach, first suggested by Weiss.) Write the interaction terms
in the Ising model as

si sj = (si − m)(sj − m) + m(sj − m) + m(si − m) + m2

where m is the equilibrium magnetisation. The mean field “approximation” hinges on


assuming that the deviation from equilibrium, (si − m), is small and so the first term
above can be neglected. With this assumption, show that the partition function of the
Ising model can be written as
X 1 2
P 1 2
Z= e− 2 βJN qm +β(Jqm+B) i si = e− 2 βJN qm 2N coshN (βJqm + βB)
{si }

1
with q the number of nearest neighbour pairs. Use this partition function to determine
the equilibrium magnetisation and show that it obeys the self-consistency condition

m = tanh (βB + βJqm)

For B = 0, show that the form of the solution differs for T > Tc and T < Tc where
Tc = Jq. [Hint: Think graphically.] For B 6= 0, find the asymptotic form of the
solution as T → ∞.

3. The long range Ising model, in which each spin interacts with all other spins,
including itself, provides an example where mean field theory is exact. The energy is
! !
X J X X
E = −B si − si sj
i
2N i j

Why is there an extra factor of N in the coupling? First, show that


r
N βJ +∞
Z
2 2
e βJα /2N
= dx e−N βJx /2+αβJx
2π −∞

Use this identity to write the partition function as


r
N βJ +∞ βJx2
Z
Z= dx e−N S(x) where S(x) = − log 2 cosh β(B + Jx)
2π −∞ 2

In the large N limit, the partition function can be evaluated by saddle point so that,
ignoring a pre-factor, Z ≈ e−N S(x? ) where x? is the minimum of S(x). Find an equation
for x? . Show that the equilibrium magnetisation is given by m = x? .

4? . Consider the free energy

f (m) = α2 (T )m2 + α4 m4 + α6 m6

where α4 < 0 and α6 > 0 and α2 (T ) varies from positive to negative as the temperature
is lowered. Sketch f (m) for various values of the temperature. Show that the system
undergoes a first order phase transition at α2 = α42 /4α6 . What is the jump in the
magnetisation? Draw the phase diagram in the α2 − α4 plane.

When α4 = 0, the phase transition occurs at α2 (Tc ) = 0. This is said to be a tri-


critical point. Compute the mean field critical exponents α, β, γ and δ. (You will need
to add a Bm term to the free energy to compute the latter two.)

2
5. A superfluid has complex order parameter ψ and free energy given by the so-called
XY-model

f (ψ) = α2 |ψ|2 + α4 |ψ|4

Sketch the free energy for α2 < 0 and α4 > 0. What are the possible ground states
when α2 < 0? What is the meaning of “spontaneous symmetry breaking” in this
context? Show that the critical point at α2 = 0 has the same mean field exponents α
and β as the Ising model.

6. Consider a lattice model where there lives, on each site, a unit 3-vector s =
(sx , sy , sz ) with |s| = 1. The energy is given by
X X 1 x 2 y 2

z 2
E = −J si sj + g (si ) − (si ) + (si )
i
2
hiji

with J > 0. Use mean field theory to give plausibility arguments for why the phase
diagram takes the form shown below:

g
XY type 2nd order
order transition

1st order transition T

disordered
Ising type phase
order

[Hint: You do not need to do any detailed manipulations of the path integral. Instead,
think physically about how we expect the spins to behave for different parameters. In
particular, consider the ground states, and the phase transitions, between them in the
following regimes:

• At low T , as g changes from negative to positive.

• With g > 0 as T changes from low to high.

• With g < 0 as T changes from low to high. ]

3
7. Consider the Landau-Ginsberg free energy for a complex scalar ψ,
Z 2 2 2 !
dψ d ψ
F = dx α2 (T )|ψ|2 + α4 |ψ|4 − γ + κ 2
dx dx

with α4 , γ, κ > 0. Consider an ansatz in which a single Fourier mode ψk = Ak eikx with
k = ±k0 is non-vanishing. What value of k0 minimises the free energy? Show that the
system undergoes a phase transition to a spatially modulated phase when α2 = γ 2 /4κ.
What symmetries are broken in the ordered phase?

8. A multi-critical point arises from the free energy

f (m) = α2 m2 + α2n m2n , n ∈ Z+

Determine the mean field critical exponent m ∼ (Tc − T )β in the ordered phase. Sub-
stitute this back into the free energy to show that the mean field critical exponent
c ∼ (Tc − T )−α in the ordered phase is given by α = 1 − 2β. Compare this with the
contribution to the free energy from fluctuations in the Gaussian path integral. Show
that the mean field contribution to the free energy dominates at the critical point
provided d > dc = 2n/(n − 1).

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