Phase transition in the 2d random Potts model in the large-q limit

Abstract

Phase transition in the two-dimensional $q$-state Potts model with random ferromagnetic couplings in the large-q limit is conjectured to be described by the isotropic version of the infinite randomness fixed point of the random transverse-field Ising spin chain. This is supported by extensive numerical studies with a combinatorial optimization algorithm giving estimates for the critical exponents in accordance with the conjectured values: $\beta =(3-\sqrt{5})/4$, ${\beta }_s=1/2$ and $\nu =1$. The specific heat has a logarithmic singularity, but at the transition point there are very strong sample-to-sample fluctuations. Discretized randomness results in discontinuities in the internal energy.

4 pages 3 figures