Observation of FSS for a First Order Phase Transition

TL;DR

This paper reports the first observation of the predicted finite size scaling behavior near a strong first order phase transition in a 2D Potts model through multicanonical simulation.

Contribution

It provides the first empirical verification of the asymptotic finite size scaling behavior at a strong first order phase transition.

Findings

Observation of finite size scaling behavior predicted by theory

Confirmation of theoretical predictions for first order phase transitions

Simulation results match asymptotic scaling expectations

Abstract

We present the results of a multicanonical simulation of the q=20 2-d Potts model in the transition region. This is a very strong first order phase transition. We observe, for the first time, the asymptotic finite size scaling behavior predicted by Borgs and Koteck\'y close to a first order phase transition point.