Surface transitions of the semi-infinite Potts model II: the low bulk temperature regime

TL;DR

This paper proves the existence of a first-order surface phase transition in the semi-infinite q-state Potts model at low bulk temperatures, revealing a phase where the bulk is ordered but the surface is disordered.

Contribution

It establishes the existence of a new low-temperature phase with disordered surface in the semi-infinite Potts model for large q, confirming a theoretical prediction.

Findings

Existence of a first-order surface phase transition.

Identification of a new low-temperature phase with disordered surface.

Confirmation of theoretical predictions for large q.

Abstract

We consider the semi-infinite (q)-state Potts model. We prove, for large (q), the existence of a first order surface phase transition between the ordered phase and the the so-called "new low temperature phase" predicted in \cite{Li}, in which the bulk is ordered whereas the surface is disordered.