Problem Set 4

Phys 7240, Fall 2014

Due: Oct 23

1 Finite size scaling in the 1D Ising model

J. Cardy’s book, Problem 4.2

By solving the 1D Ising model exactly using the transfer matrix formalism, show that the
magnetic susceptibility of a finite chain of length L = N a (N is the number of spins, a is
the lattice spacing) has the scaling form
χ ∼ ξ γ/ν f (ξ/L), (1.1)
where ξ is the correlation length of an infinite chain. Calculate the scaling function f for
free and periodic boundary conditions and show that they are not equal.
Magnetic susceptibility is defined as the derivative of the magnetization with respect
to the magnetic field with the field subsequently set to zero. In other words, given the
partition function P
eK k σk σk+1 +hσk ,
X
Z= (1.2)
σ=±1
1 1 ∂ ln Z
h σk i =
P
the susceptibility is given by (recall that M = N k N ∂h
)

1 ∂ 2 ln Z 
χ= . (1.3)
N ∂h2 h=0


2 Finite size scaling in the 3D Ising model

J. Cardy’s book, Problem 4.4

Consider a 3D Ising model in a slab geometry, with finite thickness L but infinite in
the other two directions. Close to the critical point, where the correlation length exceeds
L, the behavior of this model is two-dimensional. In 2D, as we know, the specific heat
depends logarithmically on temperature, as in
" #
1
c = A(L) log , (2.1)
T − Tc (L)
but unlike the pure 2D Ising, the parameters A and Tc depend on L.
How should A depend on L at large L?