arXiv subjects

Michael Aizenman

Publications and source records attributed to Michael Aizenman.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2025

Geometric analysis of Ising models, Part III

The random current representation of the Ising model, along with a related path expansion, has been a source of insight on the stochastic geometric underpinning of the ferromagnetic model's phase structure and critical behavior in different dimensions. This representation is extended here to systems with a mild amount of frustration, such as generated by disorder operators and external field of mixed signs. Further examples of the utility of such stochastic geometric representations are presented in the context of the deconfinement transition of the $Z_2$ lattice gauge model -- particularly in three dimensions -- and in streamlined proofs of correlation inequalities with wide-ranging applications.

math-ph↗

arXiv2024

Entanglement entropy bounds for pure states of rapid decorrelation

For pure states of multi-dimensional quantum lattice systems, which in a convenient computational basis have amplitude and phase structure of sufficiently rapid decorrelation, we construct high fidelity approximations of relatively low complexity. These are used for a conditional proof of area-law bounds for the states' entanglement entropy. The condition is also shown to imply exponential decay of the state's mutual information between disjoint regions, and hence exponential clustering of local observables. The applicability of the general results is demonstrated on the quantum Ising model in transverse field. Combined with available model-specific information on spin-spin correlations, we establish an area-law type bound on the entanglement in the model's subcritical ground states, valid in all dimensions and up to the model's quantum phase transition.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2022

Ruminations on Matrix Convexity and the Strong Subadditivity of Quantum Entropy

The familiar second derivative test for convexity, combined with resolvent calculus, is shown to yield a useful tool for the study of convex matrix-valued functions. We demonstrate the applicability of this approach on a number of theorems in this field. These include convexity principles which play an essential role in the Lieb-Ruskai proof of the strong subadditivity of quantum entropy.

quant-ph↗

arXiv2021

A geometric perspective on the scaling limits of critical Ising and $\varphi^4_d$ models

The lecture delivered at the \emph{Current Developments in Mathematics} conference (Harvard-MIT, 2021) focused on the recent proof of the Gaussian structure of the scaling limits of the critical Ising and $\varphi^4$ fields in the marginal case of four dimensions(joint work with Hugo Duminil-Copin). These notes expand on the background of the question addressed by this result, approaching it from two partly overlapping perspectives: one concerning critical phenomena in statistical mechanics and the other functional integrals over Euclidean spaces which could serve as a springboard to quantum field theory. We start by recalling some basic results concerning the models' critical behavior in different dimensions. The analysis is framed in the models' stochastic geometric random current representation. It yields intuitive explanations as well as tools for proving a range of dimension dependent results, including: the emergence in $2D$ of Fermionic degrees of freedom, the non-gaussianity of the scaling limits in two dimensions, and conversely the emergence of Gaussian behavior in four and higher dimensions. To cover the marginal case of $4D$ the tree diagram bound which has sufficed for higher dimensions needed to be supplemented by a singular correction. Its presence was established through multi-scale analysis in a recent joint work with HDC.

math-ph↗

arXiv2021

Depinning in integer-restricted Gaussian Fields and BKT phases of two-component spin models

For a family of integer-valued height functions defined over the faces of planar graphs, we establish a relation between the probability of connection by level sets and the spin-spin correlations of the dual $O(2)$ symmetric spin models formulated over the graphs' vertices. The relation is used to show that in two dimensions the Villain spin model exhibits non-summable decay of correlations at any temperature at which the dual integer-restricted Gaussian field exhibits depinning. For the latter, we devise a new monotonicity argument through which the recent alternative proof by Lammers of the existence of a depinning transition in two-dimensional graphs of degree three, is extended to all doubly-periodic graphs, in particular to $\mathbb{Z}^2$. Essential use is made of the inequality of Regev and Stephens-Davidowitz, which allows also an alternative (to absolute-value FKG) proof of convergence of the height-function's distribution in the infinite-volume limit. Similar results are established for the $XY$ spin model and its dual Bessel random height function. Taken together these statements yield a new perspective on the Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in $O(2)$ spin models, and complete a new proof of depinning in two-dimensional integer-valued height functions.

math.PR↗

arXiv2021

Marginal triviality of the scaling limits of critical 4D Ising and $ϕ_4^4$ models

We prove that the scaling limits of spin fluctuations in four-dimensional Ising-type models with nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic interaction at or near the critical point are Gaussian. A similar statement is proven for the $λϕ^4$ fields over $\mathbb{R}^4$ with a lattice ultraviolet cutoff, in the limit of infinite volume and vanishing lattice spacing. The proofs are enabled by the models' random current representation, in which the correlation functions' deviation from Wick's law is expressed in terms of intersection probabilities of random currents with sources at distances which are large on the model's lattice scale. Guided by the analogy with random walk intersection amplitudes, the analysis focuses on the improvement of the so-called tree diagram bound by a logarithmic correction term, which is derived here through multi-scale analysis.

math-ph↗

arXiv2020

Dimerization and Néel order in different quantum spin chains through a shared loop representation

The ground states of the spin-$ S $ antiferromagnetic chain $H_\textrm{AF}$ with a projection-based interaction and the spin-$ 1/2$ XXZ-chain $ H_\textrm{XXZ} $ at anisotropy parameter $Δ=\cosh(λ) $ share a common loop representation in terms of a two-dimensional functional integral which is similar to the classical planar $Q$-state Potts model at $ \sqrt Q= 2S+1 =2\cosh(λ)$. The multifaceted relation is used here to directly relate the distinct forms of translation symmetry breaking which are manifested in the ground states of these two models: dimerization for $H_\textrm{AF}$ at all $S> 1/2$, and Néel order for $ H_\textrm{XXZ} $ at $λ>0$. The results presented include: i) a translation to the above quantum spin systems of the results which were recently proven by Duminil-Copin-Li-Manolescu for a broad class of two-dimensional random-cluster models, and ii) a short proof of the symmetry breaking in a manner similar to the recent structural proof by Ray-Spinka of the discontinuity of the phase transition for $Q>4$. Altogether, the quantum manifestation of the change between $Q=4$ and $Q>4$ is a transition from a gapless ground state to a pair of gapped and extensively distinct ground states.

math-ph↗

arXiv2019

Exponential decay of correlations in the 2D random field Ising model

An extension of the Ising spin configurations to continuous functions is used for an exact representation of the Random Field Ising Model's order parameter in terms of disagreement percolation. This facilitates an extension of the recent analyses of the decay of correlations to positive temperatures, at homogeneous but arbitrarily weak disorder.

math-ph↗

arXiv2018

Kac-Ward formula and its extension to order-disorder correlators through a graph zeta function

A streamlined derivation of the Kac-Ward formula for the planar Ising model's partition function is presented and applied in relating the kernel of the Kac-Ward matrices' inverse with the correlation functions of the Ising model's order-disorder correlation functions. A shortcut for both is facilitated by the Bowen-Lanford graph zeta function relation. The Kac-Ward relation is also extended here to produce a family of non planar interactions on $\mathbb{Z}^2$ for which the partition function and the order-disorder correlators are solvable at special values of the coupling parameters/temperature.

math-ph↗

arXiv2018

A power-law upper bound on the correlations in the 2D random field Ising model

As first asserted by Y. Imry and S-K Ma, the famed discontinuity of the magnetization as function of the magnetic field in the two dimensional Ising model is eliminated, for all temperatures, through the addition of quenched random magnetic field of uniform variance, even if that is small. This statement is quantified here by a power-law upper bound on the decay rate of the effect of boundary conditions on the magnetization in finite systems, as function of the distance to the boundary. Unlike exponential decay which is only proven for strong disorder or high temperature, the power-law upper bound is established here for all field strengths and at all temperatures, including zero, for the case of independent Gaussian random field. Our analysis proceeds through a streamlined and quantified version of the Aizenman-Wehr proof of the Imry-Ma rounding effect.

math-ph↗

arXiv2018

Emergent Planarity in two-dimensional Ising Models with finite-range Interactions

The known Pfaffian structure of the boundary spin correlations, and more generally order-disorder correlation functions, is given a new explanation through simple topological considerations within the model's random current representation. This perspective is then employed in the proof that the Pfaffian structure of boundary correlations emerges asymptotically at criticality in Ising models on $\mathbb Z^2$ with finite-range interactions. The analysis is enabled by new results on the stochastic geometry of the corresponding random currents. The proven statement establishes an aspect of universality, seen here in the emergence of fermionic structures in two dimensions beyond the solvable cases.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

Edge switching transformations of quantum graphs

Discussed here are the effects of basics graph transformations on the spectra of associated quantum graphs. In particular it is shown that under an edge switch the spectrum of the transformed Schrödinger operator is interlaced with that of the original one. By implication, under edge swap the spectra before and after the transformation, denoted by $\{ E_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ and $\{\widetilde E_n\}_{n=1}^{\infty}$ correspondingly, are level-2 interlaced, so that $E_{n-2}\le \widetilde E_n\le E_{n+2}$. The proofs are guided by considerations of the quantum graphs' discrete analogs.

math-ph↗

arXiv2017

Matrix regularizing effects of Gaussian perturbations

The addition of noise has a regularizing effect on Hermitian matrices. This effect is studied here for $H=A+V$, where $A$ is the base matrix and $V$ is sampled from the GOE or the GUE random matrix ensembles. We bound the mean number of eigenvalues of $H$ in an interval, and present tail bounds for the distribution of the Frobenius and operator norms of $H^{-1}$ and for the distribution of the norm of $H^{-1}$ applied to a fixed vector. The bounds are uniform in $A$ and exceed the actual suprema by no more than multiplicative constants. The probability of multiple eigenvalues in an interval is also estimated.

math.PR↗

arXiv2016

Pfaffian Correlation Functions of Planar Dimer Covers

The Pfaffian structure of the boundary monomer correlation functions in the dimer-covering planar graph models is rederived through a combinatorial / topological argument. These functions are then extended into a larger family of order-disorder correlation functions which are shown to exhibit Pfaffian structure throughout the bulk. Key tools involve combinatorial switching symmetries which are identified through the loop-gas representation of the double dimer model, and topological implications of planarity.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

Boosted Simon-Wolff Spectral Criterion and Resonant Delocalization

Discussed here are criteria for the existence of continuous components in the spectra of operators with random potential. First, the essential condition for the Simon-Wolff criterion is shown to be measurable at infinity. By implication, for the iid case and more generally potentials with the K-property the criterion is boosted by a zero-one law. The boosted criterion, combined with tunneling estimates, is then applied for sufficiency conditions for the presence of continuous spectrum for random Schrödinger operators. The general proof strategy which this yields is modeled on the resonant delocalization arguments by which continuous spectrum in the presence of disorder was previously established for random operators on tree graphs. In another application of the Simon-Wolff rank-one analysis we prove the almost sure simplicity of the pure point spectrum for operators with random potentials of conditionally continuous distribution.

math-ph↗

arXiv2015

The truncated correlations of the Ising model in any dimension decay exponentially fast at all but the critical temperature

The truncated two-point function of the nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic Ising model on $\mathbb Z^d$ ($d\ge3$) in its pure phases is proven to decays exponentially fast throughout the ordered regime ($T<T_c$). Together with known results, this implies that the exponential clustering property holds throughout the model's phase diagram except for the critical point: $(T,h) = (T_c,0)$.

math-ph↗

arXiv2014

Resonances and Partial Delocalization on the Complete Graph

Random operators may acquire extended states formed from a multitude of mutually resonating local quasi-modes. This mechanics is explored here in the context of the random Schrödinger operator on the complete graph. The operators exhibits local quasi modes mixed through a single channel. While most of its spectrum consists of localized eigenfunctions, under appropriate conditions it includes also bands of states which are delocalized in the $\ell^1$-though not in $\ell^2$-sense, where the eigenvalues have the statistics of Šeba spectra. The analysis proceeds through some general observations on the scaling limits of random functions in the Herglotz-Pick class. The results are in agreement with a heuristic condition for the emergence of resonant delocalization, which is stated in terms of the tunneling amplitude among quasi-modes.

math-ph↗

arXiv2014

On the ubiquity of the Cauchy distribution in spectral problems

We consider the distribution of the values at real points of random functions which belong to the Herglotz-Pick (HP) class of analytic mappings of the upper half plane into itself. It is shown that under mild stationarity assumptions the individual values of HP functions with singular spectra have a Cauchy type distribution. The statement applies to the diagonal matrix elements of random operators, and holds regardless of the presence or not of level repulsion, i.e. applies to both random matrix and Poisson-type spectra.

math-ph↗