Universal and non-universal amplitude ratios for scaling corrections on Ising strips

Abstract

We consider strips of Ising spins at criticality. For strips of width $N$ sites, subdominant (additive) finite-size corrections to scaling are assumed to be of the form $a_k/N^k$ for the free energy, and $b_k/N^k$ for inverse correlation length, with integer values of $k$. We investigate the set $\{a_k,b_k\}$ ($k \geq 2$) by exact evaluation and numerical transfer-matrix diagonalization techniques, and their changes upon varying anisotropy of couplings, spin quantum number $S$, and (finite) interaction range, in all cases for both periodic (PBC) and free (FBC) boundary conditions across the strip. We find that the coefficient ratios $b_k/a_k$ remain constant upon varying coupling anisotropy for $S=1/2$ and first-neighbor couplings, for both PBC and FBC (albeit at distinct values in either case). Such universal behavior is not maintained upon changes in $S$ or interaction range.