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Updated: May 22, 2026
06:26
Orientational Transition in a Liquid Crystal Triggered by the Thermodynamic Growth of Interfacial Wetting Sheets
Published on: May 15, 2017
Inhomogeneities on all scales at a phase transition altered by disorder
Summary
We studied how quenched bond disorder affects continuous phase transitions. Spatial inhomogeneities form and grow with system size, requiring specific averaging for accurate critical exponent analysis.
Area of Science:
- Statistical Physics
- Condensed Matter Physics
Background:
- Continuous phase transitions are fundamental in physics.
- Quenched disorder significantly alters critical phenomena.
- Understanding disorder effects requires advanced simulation techniques.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the impact of quenched bond disorder on continuous phase transitions.
- To determine the necessary averaging procedures for critical exponent calculation.
- To analyze the formation and scaling of spatial inhomogeneities.
Main Methods:
- Finite-size scaling analysis.
- Equilibriumlike invaded cluster algorithm.
- Investigation at quasicritical temperatures for each disorder realization.
Main Results:
- Averaging free energy at quasicritical temperatures is crucial for accessing the thermal critical exponent y(τ).
- Spatial inhomogeneities emerge and become more pronounced with increasing system size.
- Different exponents describe fluctuation rescaling in disorder and thermodynamic ensembles.
Conclusions:
- Quenched disorder introduces complexities in phase transition studies.
- Proper averaging is essential for accurate characterization of critical behavior.
- The study highlights distinct scaling behaviors due to disorder-induced inhomogeneities.
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