Low-Temperature Expansion for a First Order Surface Transition

TL;DR

This paper investigates the potential for a first order surface transition in a semi-infinite Blume-Capel model using low temperature expansions, revealing possible discrepancies with renormalization group predictions.

Contribution

It introduces low temperature expansion methods to analyze surface transitions, challenging previous renormalization group results and suggesting the existence of first order surface transitions.

Findings

First order surface transition can exist in the model.

Low temperature expansions provide insights into surface phenomena.

Contradicts renormalization group predictions.

Abstract

The question concerning the possibility of a first order surface transition in a semi--infinite Blume--Capel model is addressed by means of low temperature expansions. It is found that such a transition can exist, according to mean field and cluster variation approximations, and contrarily to renormalization group results.