Logarithmic finite-size scaling of the self-avoiding walk at four dimensions

TL;DR

This study precisely estimates the critical point and analyzes the finite-size scaling of the self-avoiding walk in four dimensions, confirming theoretical predictions about logarithmic corrections and supporting the universality class conjecture.

Contribution

The paper provides a highly accurate estimate of the critical fugacity for 4D SAW and demonstrates the logarithmic finite-size scaling behavior, validating recent theoretical predictions.

Findings

Critical fugacity estimated as z_c=0.147622380(2)

Logarithmic divergence of susceptibility and specific heat confirmed

Logarithmic exponents match theoretical predictions (1/4)

Abstract

The $n$-vector spin model, which includes the self-avoiding walk (SAW) as a special case for the $n \rightarrow 0 $ limit, has an upper critical dimensionality at four spatial dimensions (4D). We simulate the SAW on 4D hypercubic lattices with periodic boundary conditions by an irreversible Berretti-Sokal algorithm up to linear size $L=768$. From an unwrapped end-to-end distance, we obtain the critical fugacity as $z_c= 0.147 \, 622 \, 380(2)$, improving over the existing result $z_c=0.147 \, 622 \, 3(1)$ by 50 times. Such a precisely estimated critical point enables us to perform a systematic study of the finite-size scaling of 4D SAW for various quantities. Our data indicate that near $z_c$, the scaling behavior of the free energy simultaneously contains a scaling term from the Gaussian fixed point and the other accounting for multiplicative logarithmic corrections. In particular, it is clearly observed that the critical magnetic susceptibility and the specific heat logarithmically diverge as $\chi \sim L^2 (\ln L)^{2 \hat{y}_h}$ and $C \sim (\ln L)^{2 \hat{y}_t}$, and the logarithmic exponents are determined as $\hat{y}_h=0.252(2)$ and $\hat{y}_t=0.25(2)$, in excellent agreement with the field theoretical prediction $\hat{y}_h=\hat{y}_t=1/4$. Our results provide a strong support for the recently conjectured finite-size scaling form for the O$(n)$ universality classes at 4D.