arXiv subjects
Publications and source records attributed to John Cardy.
Using methods of conformal field theory, we conjecture an exact form for the probability that n distinct clusters span a large rectangle or open cylinder of aspect ratio k, in the limit when k is large.
The effect of quenched impurities on systems which undergo first-order phase transitions is studied within the framework of the q-state Potts model. For large q a mapping to the random field Ising model is introduced which provides a simple physical explanation of the absence of any latent heat in 2D, and suggests that in higher dimensions such systems should exhibit a tricritical point with a correlation length exponent related to the exponents of the random field model by ν= ν_RF / (2 - α_RF - β_RF). In 2D we analyze the model using finite-size scaling and conformal invariance, and find a continuous transition with a magnetic exponent β/ νwhich varies continuously with q, and a weakly varying correlation length exponent ν\approx 1. We find strong evidence for the multiscaling of the correlation functions as expected for such random systems.
A recent argument of Oerding shows that our calculation of the quantity Delta, which determines the amplitude of the asymptotic decay of the particle density in d < 2 < 4, was in error. Instead it is simply given by Delta = n_0, the initial density, for uncorrelated initial conditions.
A systematic theory for the diffusion--limited reaction processes $A + A \to 0$ and $A \to (m+1) A$ is developed. Fluctuations are taken into account via the field--theoretic dynamical renormalization group. For $m$ even the mean field rate equation, which predicts only an active phase, remains qualitatively correct near $d_c = 2$ dimensions; but below $d_c' \approx 4/3$ a nontrivial transition to an inactive phase governed by power law behavior appears. For $m$ odd there is a dynamic phase transition for any $d \leq 2$ which is described by the directed percolation universality class.
This is the text of a talk given at the conference in memory of Claude Itzykson at Saclay in June 1996. It contains an introductory survey and an account of recent developments in the field theoretic RG approach to reaction-diffusion problems.
We analyse the effect of quenched uncorrelated randomness coupling to the local energy density of a model consisting of N coupled two-dimensional Ising models. For N>2 the pure model exhibits a fluctuation-driven first order transition, characterised by runaway renormalisation group behaviour. We show that the addition of weak randomness acts to stabilise these flows, in such a way that the trajectories ultimately flow back towards the pure decoupled Ising fixed point, with the usual critical exponents alpha=0, nu=1, apart from logarithmic corrections. We also show by examples that, in higher dimensions, such transitions may either become continuous or remain first order in the presence of randomness.
The $A + B\to 0$ diffusion-limited reaction, with equal initial densities $a(0) = b(0) = n_0$, is studied by means of a field-theoretic renormalization group formulation of the problem. For dimension $d > 2$ an effective theory is derived, from which the density and correlation functions can be calculated. We find the density decays in time as $a,b \sim C\sqrt{\D}(Dt)^{-d/4}$ for $d < 4$, with $\D = n_0-C^\prime n_0^{d/2} + \dots$, where $C$ is a universal constant, and $C^\prime$ is non-universal. The calculation is extended to the case of unequal diffusion constants $D_A \neq D_B$, resulting in a new amplitude but the same exponent. For $d \le 2$ a controlled calculation is not possible, but a heuristic argument is presented that the results above give at least the leading term in an $ε= 2-d$ expansion. Finally, we address reaction zones formed in the steady-state by opposing currents of $A$ and $B$ particles, and derive scaling properties.
We consider the properties of the diffusion controlled reaction A+B->0 in the steady state, where fixed currents of A and B particles are maintained at opposite edges of the system. Using renormalisation group methods, we explicitly calculate the asymptotic forms of the reaction front and particle densities as expansions in (JD^{-1}|x|^{d+1})^{-1}, where J are the (equal) applied currents, and D the (equal) diffusion constants. For the asymptotic densities of the minority species, we find, in addition to the expected exponential decay, fluctuation induced power law tails, which, for d<2, have a universal form A|x|^{-omega}, where omega=5+O(epsilon), and epsilon=2-d. A related expansion is derived for the reaction rate profile R, where we find the asymptotic power law R \sim B|x|^{-omega -2}. For d>2, we find similar power laws with omega=d+3, but with non-universal coefficients. Logarithmic corrections occur in d=2. These results imply that, in the time dependent case, with segregated initial conditions, the moments \int |x|^{q}R(x,t)dx fail to satisfy simple scaling for q>omega+1. Finally, it is shown that the fluctuation induced wandering of the position of the reaction front centre may be neglected for large enough systems.
We discuss how the statistical properties of the area and radius of gyration of single self-avoiding loops, and of Ising and percolation cluster boundaries, may be calculated using ideas of two-dimensional field theory. For cluster boundaries, we show that almost all loops have area $C\ln L+O(1)$, where $L$ is the size of the system, and $C$ is a calculable constant. We also compute the universal ratios $\langle A\rangle_\ell/\langle R^2\rangle_\ell$ of the area to the squared radius of gyration of loops of a given large perimeter $\ell$.
We consider the probability $P(t)$ that a given site remains unvisited by any of a set of random walkers in $d$ dimensions undergoing the reaction $A+A\to0$ when they meet. We find that asymptotically $P(t)\sim t^{-θ}$ with a universal exponent $θ=\ffrac12-O(ε)$ for $d=2-ε$, while, for $d>2$, $θ$ is non-universal and depends on the reaction rate. The analysis, which uses field-theoretic renormalisation group methods, is also applied to the reaction $kA\to0$ with $k>2$. In this case, a stretched exponential behaviour is found for all $d\geq1$, except in the case $k=3$, $d=1$, where $P(t)\sim {\rm e}^{-\const (\ln t)^{3/2}}$.
We study reaction zones in three different versions of the A+B->0 system. For a steady state formed by opposing currents of A and B particles we derive scaling behavior via renormalization group analysis. By use of a previously developed analogy, these results are extended to the time-dependent case of an initially segregated system. We also consider an initially mixed system, which forms reaction zones for dimension d<4. In this case an extension of the steady-state analogy gives scaling results characterized by new exponents.
A two-dimensional conformal field theory with a conserved $U(1)$ current $\vec J$, when perturbed by the operator ${\vec J}^{\,2}$, exhibits a line of fixed points along which the scaling dimensions of the operators with non-zero $U(1)$ charge vary continuously. This result is applied to the problem of oriented polymers (self-avoiding walks) in which the short-range repulsive interactions between two segments depend on their relative orientation. While the exponent $ν$ describing the fractal dimension of such walks remains fixed, the exponent $γ$, which gives the total number $\sim N^{γ-1}μ^N$ of such walks, is predicted to vary continuously with the energy difference.
The mean area of two-dimensional unpressurised vesicles, or self-avoiding loops of fixed length $N$, behaves for large $N$ as $A_0 N^{3/2}$, while their mean square radius of gyration behaves as $R^2_0 N^{3/2}$. The amplitude ratio $A_0/R_0^2$ is computed exactly and found to equal $4π/5$. The physics of the pressurised case, both in the inflated and collapsed phases, may be usefully related to that of a complex O(n) field theory coupled to a U(1) gauge field, in the limit $n \to 0$.
We use the recently conjectured exact $S$-matrix of the massive ${\rm O}(n)$ model to derive its form factors and ground state energy. This information is then used in the limit $n\to0$ to obtain quantitative results for various universal properties of self-avoiding chains and loops. In particular, we give the first theoretical prediction of the amplitude ratio $C/D$ which relates the mean square end-to-end distance of chains to the mean square radius of gyration of closed loops. This agrees with the results from lattice enumeration studies to within their errors, and gives strong support for the various assumptions which enter into the field theoretic derivation. In addition, we obtain results for the scaling function of the structure factor of long loops, and for various amplitude ratios measuring the shape of self-avoiding chains. These quantities are all related to moments of correlation functions which are evaluated as a sum over $m$-particle intermediate states in the corresponding field theory. We show that in almost all cases, the restriction to $m\leq2$ gives results which are accurate to at least one part in $10^3$. This remarkable fact is traced to a softening of the $m>2$ branch cuts relative to their behaviour based on phase space arguments alone, a result which follows from the threshold behaviour of the two-body $S$-matrix, $S(0)=-1$. Since this is a general property of interacting 2d field theories, it suggests that similar approximations may well hold for other models. However, we also study the moments of the area of self-avoiding loops,
The methods of conformal field theory are used to compute the crossing probabilities between segments of the boundary of a compact two-dimensional region at the percolation threshold. These probabilities are shown to be invariant not only under changes of scale, but also under mappings of the region which are conformal in the interior and continuous on the boundary. This is a larger invariance than that expected for generic critical systems. Specific predictions are presented for the crossing probability between opposite sides of a rectangle, and are compared with recent numerical work. The agreement is excellent.