Deconfinement in the Two Dimensional XY Model
Statistical Mechanics
2009-11-07 v2 Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics
Superconductivity
Abstract
The unbinding of vortex-antivortex pairs for the classical two-dimensional XY model in a magnetic field is studied. A single such pair is connected by a string of overturned spins, leading to linear confinement. We show that this system supports two phase transitions, one in which closed strings proliferate, and a second in which vortices unbind. The transitions are shown to be dual to one another, and are remarkably continuous. Possible consequences for a variety of systems are discussed.
Keywords
Cite
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0112106,
title = {Deconfinement in the Two Dimensional XY Model},
author = {H. A. Fertig},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0112106},
year = {2009}
}
Comments
4 pages, 3 figures. Typos corrected, small but important change in intro. Accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters