Abstract:
We reexamine the range of validity of finite-size scaling in the \({\varphi ^4}\) lattice model and the \({\varphi ^4}\) field theory below four dimensions. We show that general renormalization-group arguments based on the renormalizability of the \({\varphi ^4}\) theory do not rule out the possibility of a violation of finite-size scaling due to a finite lattice constant and a finite cutoff. For a confined geometry of linear size L with periodic boundary conditions we analyze the approach towards bulk critical behavior as \(L \to \infty \) at fixed \(\xi \) for T > Tcwhere \(\xi \) is the bulk correlation length. We show that for this analysis ordinary renormalized perturbation theory is sufficient. On the basis of one-loop results and of exact results in the spherical limit we find that finite-size scaling is violated for both the \({\varphi ^4}\) lattice model and the \({\varphi ^4}\) field theory in the region \(L \gg \xi \). The non-scaling effects in the field theory and in the lattice model differ significantly from each other.
Similar content being viewed by others
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Received 5 February 1999
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Chen, X., Dohm, V. Violation of finite-size scaling in three dimensions. Eur. Phys. J. B 10, 687–703 (1999). https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050901
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050901