Metastable Potts Droplets

TL;DR

This paper uses finite-system renormalization-group theory to analyze metastable droplets and hysteresis in 3D q-state Potts models, revealing how critical sizes and hysteresis behaviors depend on system parameters.

Contribution

It introduces a method to calculate metastable droplet limits and hysteresis loops in 3D Potts models, extending understanding of phase transition dynamics.

Findings

Metastable droplet critical sizes depend on q, magnetic field, and temperature.

Hysteresis loop sizes and shapes vary with system parameters.

Asymmetry in hysteresis loops is observed.

Abstract

The existence and limits of metastable droplets have been calculated using finite-system renormalization-group theory, for q-state Potts models in spatial dimension d=3. The dependence of the droplet critical sizes on magnetic field, temperature, and number of Potts states q has been calculated. The same method has also been used for the calculation of hysteresis loops across first-order phase transitions in these systems. The hysteresis loop sizes and shapes have been deduced as a function of magnetic field, temperature, and number of Potts states q. The uneven appearance of asymmetry in the hysteresis loop branches has been noted. The method can be extended to criticality and phase transitions in metastable phases, such as in surface-adsorbed systems and water.