arXiv subjects

Monwhea Jeng

Publications and source records attributed to Monwhea Jeng.

9 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2008

Vacancy diffusion in the triangular lattice dimer model

We study vacancy diffusion on the classical triangular lattice dimer model, sub ject to the kinetic constraint that dimers can only translate, but not rotate. A single vacancy, i.e. a monomer, in an otherwise fully packed lattice, is always localized in a tree-like structure. The distribution of tree sizes is asymptotically exponential and has an average of 8.16 \pm 0.01 sites. A connected pair of monomers has a finite probability of being delocalized. When delocalized, the diffusion of monomers is anomalous:

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2006

Height variables in the Abelian sandpile model: scaling fields and correlations

We compute the lattice 1-site probabilities, on the upper half-plane, of the four height variables in the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model. We find their exact scaling form when the insertion point is far from the boundary, and when the boundary is either open or closed. Comparing with the predictions of a logarithmic conformal theory with central charge c=-2, we find a full compatibility with the following field assignments: the heights 2, 3 and 4 behave like (an unusual realization of) the logarithmic partner of a primary field with scaling dimension 2, the primary field itself being associated with the height 1 variable. Finite size corrections are also computed and successfully compared with numerical simulations. Relying on these field assignments, we formulate a conjecture for the scaling form of the lattice 2-point correlations of the height variables on the plane, which remain as yet unknown. The way conformal invariance is realized in this system points to a local field theory with c=-2 which is different from the triplet theory.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Hot water can freeze faster than cold?!?

We review the Mpemba effect, where intially hot water freezes faster than initially cold water. While the effect appears impossible at first sight, it has been seen in numerous experiments, was reported on by Aristotle, Francis Bacon, and Descartes, and has been well-known as folklore around the world. It has a rich and fascinating history, which culminates in the dramatic story of the secondary school student, Erasto Mpemba, who reintroduced the effect to the twentieth century scientific community. The phenomenon, while simple to describe, is deceptively complex, and illustrates numerous important issues about the scientific method: the role of skepticism in scientific inquiry, the influence of theory on experiment and observation, the need for precision in the statement of a scientific hypothesis, and the nature of falsifiability. We survey proposed theoretical mechanisms for the Mpemba effect, and the results of modern experiments on the phenomenon. Studies of the observation that hot water pipes are more likely to burst than cold water pipes are also described.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2005

A selected history of expectation bias in physics

The beliefs of physicists can bias their results towards their expectations in a number of ways. We survey a variety of historical cases of expectation bias in observations, experiments, and calculations.

physics.hist-ph↗

arXiv2005

The four height variables of the Abelian sandpile model

We study the height one, two, three, and four variables in the Abelian sandpile model. We argue that correlation functions along closed boundaries, as well as general conformal field theory principles, show that the four variables are not represented by the same operator along closed boundaries, or in the bulk. Along open boundaries, we calculate all n-point correlations, and find that there, all height variables are represented by the same operator. We introduce dissipative defect points, and show that along open boundaries they are represented by the same operator as the height variables.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2005

The four height variables, boundary correlations, and dissipative defects in the Abelian sandpile model

We analyze the two-dimensional Abelian sandpile model, and demonstrate that the four height variables have different field identifications in the bulk, and along closed boundaries, but become identical, up to rescaling, along open boundaries. We consider two-point boundary correlations in detail, and discuss a number of complications that arise in the mapping from sandpile correlations to spanning tree correlations; the structure of our results suggests a conjecture that could greatly simplify future calculations. We find a number of three-point functions along closed boundaries, and propose closed boundary field identifications for the height variables. We analyze the effects of dissipative defect sites, at which the number of grains is not conserved, and show that dissipative defects along closed boundaries, and in the bulk, have no effect on any weakly allowed cluster variables, or on their correlations. Along open boundaries, we find a particularly simple field structure; we calculate all $n$-point correlations, for any combinations of height variables and dissipative defect sites, and find that all heights and defects are represented by the same field operator.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Boundary conditions and defect lines in the Abelian sandpile model

We add a defect line of dissipation, or crack, to the Abelian sandpile model. We find that the defect line renormalizes to separate the two-dimensional plane into two half planes with open boundary conditions. We also show that varying the amount of dissipation at a boundary of the Abelian sandpile model does not affect the universality class of the boundary condition. We demonstrate that a universal coefficient associated with height probabilities near the defect can be used to classify boundary conditions.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2004

Random Walks and Effective Resistances on Toroidal and Cylindrical Grids

A mapping between random walk problems and resistor network problems is described and used to calculate the effective resistance between any two nodes on an infinite two-dimensional square lattice of unit resistors. The superposition principle is then used to find effective resistances on toroidal and cylindrical square lattices.

physics.class-ph↗

arXiv1999

Random Defect Lines in Conformal Minimal Models

We analyze the effect of adding quenched disorder along a defect line in the 2D conformal minimal models using replicas. The disorder is realized by a random applied magnetic field in the Ising model, by fluctuations in the ferromagnetic bond coupling in the Tricritical Ising model and Tricritical Three-state Potts model (the $ϕ_{12}$ operator), etc.. We find that for the Ising model, the defect renormalizes to two decoupled half-planes without disorder, but that for all other models, the defect renormalizes to a disorder-dominated fixed point. Its critical properties are studied with an expansion in $\eps \propto 1/m$ for the mth Virasoro minimal model. The decay exponents $X_N=\frac{N}{2}(1-\frac{9(3N-4)}{4(m+1)^2}+ \mathcal{O}(\frac{3}{m+1})^3)$ of the Nth moment of the two-point function of $ϕ_{12}$ along the defect are obtained to 2-loop order, exhibiting multifractal behavior.This leads to a typical decay exponent $X_{\rm typ}={1/2} (1+\frac{9}{(m+1)^2}+\mathcal{O}(\frac{3}{m+1})^3)$. One-point functions are seen to have a non-self-averaging amplitude. The boundary entropy is larger than that of the pure system by order 1/m^3. As a byproduct of our calculations, we also obtain to 2-loop order the exponent $\tilde{X}_N=N(1-\frac{2}{9π^2}(3N-4)(q-2)^2+\mathcal{O}(q-2)^3)$ of the Nth moment of the energy operator in the q-state Potts model with bulk bond disorder.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗