Solution

ID: past-exam-of-the-phase-transitions-and-collective-phenomena-course-of-the-university-of-cambridge/2012/paper-1/2/a/solution

For an infrared-regulated phase covariance, fix the uniform order-parameter phase zero mode and introduce ultraviolet and infrared cutoffs before taking limits. With the Fourier convention
the dimensionless quadratic Hamiltonian diagonalizes as
Completing the square with a source gives , with inverse kernel
There is no additional factor: it is already included in because the supplied Hamiltonian is .
It is simplest to evaluate the real-space dependence by its defining Green equation, . Rotational invariance gives constant for . Integrating over a small sphere fixes , where . Integrating once more,
In two dimensions, take the limit after absorbing the divergent -independent piece into :
For , itself has an infrared-divergent constant in the infinite system; it is not a finite thermodynamic covariance without a regulator. The physical phase-difference variance is finite at fixed separation and cancels that constant. These are smooth spin wave correlations; compact-field vortex sectors are considered separately below.

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