Gruppo di Fisica Statistica

The authors consider m two-dimensional semi-infinite planes of Ising spins joined together through surface spins and study the critical behaviour near to the junction. The m=0 limit of the model-according to the replica trick-corresponds to the semi-infinite Ising model in the presence of a random surface field (RSFI). Using conformal mapping, second-order perturbation expansion around the weak- and strong-coupled planes limits and a differential renormalization group, they show that the surface critical behaviour of the RSFI model is described by Ising critical exponents with logarithmic corrections to scaling, while at multiple junctions (m>2) the transition is of first-order. There is a spontaneous junction magnetization at the bulk critical point.