Saddle index properties, singular topology, and its relation to thermodynamical singularities for a phi^4 mean field model

TL;DR

This paper analyzes the energy landscape and topological properties of a phi^4 mean field model, revealing that topological and thermodynamic singularities do not always coincide and depend on external fields.

Contribution

It provides a detailed characterization of stationary points, saddle indices, and topological singularities, challenging previous assumptions about their relation to phase transitions.

Findings

Saddle index distribution peaks at 1/3

Topological and thermodynamic singularities generally do not coincide

Singularities vanish when external field is non-zero

Abstract

We investigate the potential energy surface of a phi^4 model with infinite range interactions. All stationary points can be uniquely characterized by three real numbers $\alpha_+, alpha_0, alpha_- with alpha_+ + alpha_0 + alpha_- = 1, provided that the interaction strength mu is smaller than a critical value. The saddle index n_s is equal to alpha_0 and its distribution function has a maximum at n_s^max = 1/3. The density p(e) of stationary points with energy per particle e, as well as the Euler characteristic chi(e), are singular at a critical energy e_c(mu), if the external field H is zero. However, e_c(mu) \neq upsilon_c(mu), where upsilon_c(mu) is the mean potential energy per particle at the thermodynamic phase transition point T_c. This proves that previous claims that the topological and thermodynamic transition points coincide is not valid, in general. Both types of singularities disappear for H \neq 0. The average saddle index bar{n}_s as function of e decreases monotonically with e and vanishes at the ground state energy, only. In contrast, the saddle index n_s as function of the average energy bar{e}(n_s) is given by n_s(bar{e}) = 1+4bar{e} (for H=0) that vanishes at bar{e} = -1/4 > upsilon_0, the ground state energy.