Spectral Signatures of Third-Order Pseudo-Transitions in Finite Systems: An Eigen-Microstate Approach
Abstract
Third-order pseudo-transitions in finite systems reflect reorganization beyond conventional criticality, yet their identification usually relies on microcanonical entropy, which is often inaccessible in practice. Here we introduce a spectral generalized response within the eigen-microstate framework. From the distribution of normalized spectral weights, we construct the third-order ratio , which probes asymmetric redistribution among fluctuation modes beyond leading-mode condensation. Across Ising and Potts models on regular lattices and random regular networks, extrema of consistently track higher-order anomalies. Combined with spectral projection, the method further distinguishes dependent and independent branches: the former remain tied to the dominant ordering channel, whereas the latter arise from redistribution within the subleading fluctuation subspace. The effective spectral dimension provides the participation background in which these anomalies develop. These results establish a geometric characterization of third-order pseudo-transitions as reorganizations of statistical weight in configuration space and provide an order-parameter-free route to finite-size structural criticality.
Cite
@article{arxiv.2604.19244,
title = {Spectral Signatures of Third-Order Pseudo-Transitions in Finite Systems: An Eigen-Microstate Approach},
author = {Wei Liu and Songzhi Lv and Xin Zhang and Fangfang Wang and Kai Qi and Zengru Di},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:2604.19244},
year = {2026}
}
Comments
13 pages, 9 figures