Problem Set 1

Phys 7240, Fall 2014

Due: Sep 11

1 1D Ising model in a magnetic field

The partition function of the ID Ising model in a magnetic field with the periodic boundary
conditions
N −1 N
( )
X X X
Z= exp K σi σi+1 + KσN σ1 + h σi . (1.1)
σk =±1 i=1 i=1

Here K = TJ , and h = µBT B , where B is the magnetic field. The free energy, as always, is
given by F = −T ln Z.

1. Find the transfer matrix T of this Ising model (it is going to be a 2 by 2 matrix).

2. Compute the partition function in the limit N → ∞.

3. Compute the correlation function between the spins, h σk σl i − h σk i h σl i in the limit of

long chain, N → ∞, and large distance between the spins, l − k  1. Find the correlation
length ξ.

4. Find the specific heat at h = 0, defined as


1 ∂ 2 F 
c=− T ,
N ∂T 2 h=0


and the spin susceptibility at h = 0, defined as


1 ∂ 2 F 
χ=− .
T N ∂h2 h=0


What does the spin susceptivity do when T → 0?

Continued on next page

2 1D XY model
Consider a 1D XY model. It is defined by the variables φk , each taking values from −π
to π, which interact with their neighbors φk+1 and φk−1 so that the partition function is
given by
N N −1
Z π Y ( )
dφl X
Z= exp K cos (φk − φk+1 ) + K cos(φN − φ1 ) . (2.1)
−π l=1 2π k=1

1. Find the transfer matrix T . Hint: This is no longer a simple matrix, but rather an
operator and its eigenvalue equation is an integral equation.

2. Compute the partition function in the limit N → ∞. Hint: The eigenvalue equation √ is
an integral equation, and the normalized eigenfunctions of the transfer matrix are einφ / 2π
for n = 0, ±1, ±2, . . .. It may be helpful to know that, for real a and integer n,
1 Zπ
dϕ ea cos(ϕ)+inϕ = In (a), (2.2)
2π −π
where In is the modified Bessel function.

3. Find the correlation length ξ, in the limit N → ∞.

4. Let us take the XY model with open boundary conditions. Its partition function Z is
given by ( N −1
N
Z π Y )
dφl X
Z= exp K cos (φk − φk+1 ) . (2.3)
−π l=1 2π k=1

(a) Compute this partition function using a trick (invented by Ising), a substitution

ϕi = φi − φi+1 , i = 1, 2, . . . , N − 1; ϕN = φN . (2.4)

(you can also compute it using the transfer matrix, if you wish, but this method is easier
for 1D open boundary condition problems).
(b) Compute also the correlation function
N
( N −1 )
D E 1Zπ Y dφl i(φn −φm )
ei(φn −φm )
X
= e exp K cos (φk − φk+1 ) . (2.5)
Z −π l=1 2π k=1

using the same substitution. Deduce the correlation length ξ and compare it to ξ derived
in part 3.