Past exam of the mathematics course of the University of Cambridge / 2005 / iii / Paper 51 / 3 / Solution

Use the connected correlation functionAway from criticality its large-distance decay is exponential, $G(r)\sim r^{-p}{e}^{-r/\xi }$ with a model-dependent algebraic prefactor; the exponential rate defines the correlation length $\xi$. At criticality $\xi$ diverges and the decay becomes a power law. Subtracting the disconnected product is essential in the ordered phase: the unconnected correlation function tends to the square of the spontaneous magnetization rather than to zero.

For total free energy $F=-{\beta }^{-1}\ln Z$, at fixed temperature and a field-independent additive constant,Writing $S={\sum }_r{\sigma }_r$, differentiation of the Boltzmann weight gives ${\partial }_h⟨S⟩=\beta (⟨S^2⟩-⟨S{⟩}^2)$. ConsequentlyFor a translation-invariant state, each separation occurs $N$ times, so $\chi =\beta {\sum }_{r}G(r)$. Without translation invariance, the double-sum formula remains the correct relation.

Gaussian calculation and thinning. Interpret the displayed local expression as a Hamiltonian density, to be integrated over space. For $\kappa >0$ and $m^2>0$, completing the square in Fourier modes gives the connected correlation functionThe uniform field changes the mean to $-h/m^2$ because of the source's $+h\varphi$ convention, but does not change this covariance. The nearest pole has inverse length $\sqrt{\kappa m^2}$, equivalently the Green function solves $(-{\nabla }^2+\kappa m^2)G=\kappa \delta /\beta$. ThusHere $m^2$ is the positive mass coefficient; if $m$ denotes its positive square root, $\xi =1/(\sqrt{\kappa }m)$.

For a Gaussian thinning transformation, split modes into $|k|<\Lambda /b$ and $\Lambda /b<|k|<\Lambda$. The modes are independent, so integrating out the shell produces only an additive free-energy density and leaves the low-mode quadratic action unchanged. Restore the cutoff by $x=b{x}^{\prime }$ and $\varphi (x)=b^{-(D-2)/2}{\varphi }^{\prime }(x^{\prime })$. Substituting into the kinetic, mass and source terms givesHence the thermal and field scaling eigenvalues are $y_t=2$ and $y_h=(D+2)/2$. Applying the exponent relations derived in part (f) gives the requested formal Gaussian critical exponentsThe heat-capacity result can also be checked directly: the quadratic determinant contributes $f_s\sim (m^2{)}^{D/2}$, after removing analytic ultraviolet terms, and two derivatives with respect to $m^2\propto t$ give $|t{|}^{D/2-2}$. At $D=2$, the free-energy power is accompanied by a logarithm, $f_s\sim m^2\ln m^2$, whose second derivative still has index $\alpha =1$. At $D=4$ this becomes a logarithmic heat capacity singularity, with index $\alpha =0$, rather than a strictly constant singular term.

There is an important ordered-phase obstruction in a Gaussian scalar model. A purely quadratic potential is unbounded below for $m^2<0$, so the Hamiltonian as printed has no stable ordered phase and no literal spontaneous-magnetization exponent. The displayed ${\beta }_m$ is its Gaussian scaling index, obtained by assigning the field its Gaussian scaling dimension; it is not a construction of a stable ordered equilibrium. For $D<4$, a stabilizing quartic interaction is relevant and generally changes the actual critical fixed point. For $D\le 2$, massless Gaussian infrared fluctuations also obstruct interpreting the formal zero or negative index as an ordinary bounded-spin ordering law. These qualifications do not alter the requested thinning calculation, but are necessary for its physical interpretation.