Instability of the mean-field states and generalization of phase separation in long-range interacting systems

TL;DR

This paper investigates the validity of mean-field theory in long-range interacting lattice systems, revealing conditions where it holds or fails, and describing resulting inhomogeneous states and phase transitions.

Contribution

It demonstrates the conditions under which mean-field theory is exact or fails in long-range lattice systems, introducing the concept of non-MF regions with inhomogeneous states.

Findings

Mean-field theory is exact for non-additive long-range interactions in certain ensembles.

In fixed order parameter ensembles, mean-field theory can fail, leading to inhomogeneous states.

Phase transitions occur between MF and non-MF regions.

Abstract

Equilibrium properties of long-range interacting systems on lattices are investigated. There was a conjecture by Cannas et. al. that the mean-field theory is exact for spin systems with non-additive long-range interactions. This is called "exactness of the mean-field theory". We show that the exactness of the mean-field theory holds for systems on a lattice with non-additive two body long-range interactions in the canonical ensemble with non-fixed order parameters. We also show that in canonical ensemble with fixed order parameters (e.g. lattice gas model with a fixed number of particles), exactness of the mean-field theory does not hold in some parameter region, which we call "non-MF region". In the non-MF region, an inhomogeneous configuration appears contrary to the uniform configuration in the region where the mean-field theory holds. This inhomogeneous configuration is not the one given by the standard phase separation. Therefore, the mean-field picture is not adequate to describe these states. We discuss phase transitions between the MF region and the non-MF region. Exactness of the mean-field theory in spin glasses is also discussed.