Past exam of the field theories and collective phenomena in condensed matter course of the University of Oxford / 2025 / 2 / b / Solution

Set $K=\beta J$. The transfer matrix for the one-dimensional Ising model assigns a Boltzmann factor to each bond. In the Ising spin order $(+1,-1)$, it isMultiplying these bond factors and summing every Ising spin implements the canonical ensemble. The periodic boundary conditions close the product into a trace:The eigenvectors $|+⟩=(1,1{)}^T/\sqrt{2}$ and $|-⟩=(1,-1{)}^T/\sqrt{2}$ form an orthonormal basis, with eigenvaluesThe negative second eigenvalue encodes alternating correlations. Defining $q={\lambda }_{-}/{\lambda }_{+}=-\tanh K$, the exact partition function and total Helmholtz free energy areThe parity-dependent term must be retained for finite $N$; in particular it nearly cancels the leading term of $Z_N$ at low temperature when $N$ is odd.

Represent insertion of one Ising spin by $\Sigma =\mathrm{diag}(1,-1)$. In the eigenbasis of $T$, this matrix swaps $|+⟩$ and $|-⟩$. Its diagonal entries in that eigenbasis vanish, giving the exact one-point correlation functionEquivalently, configurations pair with their opposites under spin inversion symmetry, with the same Boltzmann factor and opposite $S_1$.

Two insertions separated by $n$ bonds give the two-point correlation functionThus the exact finite antiferromagnetic Ising-ring correlation isThe two numerator terms represent the two arcs between the sites. The formula has $C_N(0)=1$ and $C_N(n)=C_N(N-n)$, as required by the periodic boundary conditions. Since the one-point correlation function is zero, this is also the connected correlation function. At $K=0$, every Ising spin is independent, so $C_N(n)=0$ for distinct sites and $C_N(0)=1$; powers with exponent zero are understood as one.