Nonlinear scaling fields and corrections to scaling near criticality

Amnon Aharony, Michael E. Fisher

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

142 Scopus citations

Abstract

Thermodynamic functions in the vicinity of an ordinary critical point are expected to obey asymptotic scaling laws as t=(T-Tc)Tc and the ordering field, h, approach zero. However, the optimal scaling variables are the nonlinear scaling fields, gt=t+bth2+ctt2+ and gh=h(1+cht+). The nonlinearities yield correction factors to the leading power-law (and scaling) variation of thermodynamic quantities, L, of the form (1+aLt+bLt2+), etc., where the correction amplitudes aL,bL are uniquely determined by the nonlinear scaling-field coefficients. It follows that "analytic" corrections to, e.g., the susceptibility, are directly related to those for the free energy and magnetization (in zero field). The term bth2 also generates nonanalytic contributions such as an additive, energylike term, varying as | t |1- in the zero-field susceptibility, and factors like (1+cL| h |2-1) on the critical isotherm, t=0. Irrelevant scaling fields yield further, in general distinct, nonanalytic corrections, and cause shifts in Tc and various amplitudes although "universal" ratios remain constant.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)4394-4400
Number of pages7
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume27
Issue number7
DOIs
StatePublished - 1 Jan 1983
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

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