Numerical simulation of random paths with a curvature dependent action

Abstract

We study an ensemble of closed random paths, embedded in R^3, with a curvature dependent action. Previous analytical results indicate that there is no crumpling transition for any finite value of the curvature coupling. Nevertheless, in a high statistics numerical simulation, we observe two different regimes for the specific heat separated by a rather smooth structure. The analysis of this fact warns us about the difficulties in the interpretation of numerical results obtained in cases where theoretical results are absent and a high statistics simulation is unreachable. This may be the case of random surfaces.

9 pages, LaTeX, 4 eps figures. Final version to appear in Mod. Phys. Lett. A

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• The Flat Phase of Crystalline Membranes
• The Phase Diagram of Fluid Random Surfaces with Extrinsic Curvature
• Fluid Random Surfaces with Extrinsic Curvature: II
• The Critical Exponents of Crystalline Random Surfaces

Cited by in corpus (1)

• Perturbative Quantum Field Theory in the String-Inspired Formalism