Construction of an effective Hamiltonian for a three-dimensional Ising universality class

The asymptotic and preasymptotic critical behavior in fluids, mixtures, and uniaxial magnets is believed to be described by an effective straight phi(4) scalar field theory with suitable, nonuniversal, coupling constants. The critical parameters as well as the extent of crossovers and corrections to the leading critical behavior in physical systems, crucially depends on the choice of these couplings. Here we propose a new method for deriving the effective scalar field theory appropriate to a microscopic model in this universality class. Use is made of the hierarchical reference theory, which implements the basic ideas of Wilson momentum space renormalization group to microscopic Hamiltonians. The effective low-energy field theory is then analyzed by the minimal subtraction scheme of Schloms and Dohm. We discuss the application of this method to the three-dimensional Ising model and to the liquid-vapor phase transition. We make comparison with high-temperature expansion results and with experimental data for rare gas.