Universality in the two-dimensional dilute Baxter-Wu model.

We study the question of universality in the two-dimensional spin-1 Baxter-Wu model in the presence of a crystal field Δ. We employ extensive numerical simulations of two types, providing us with complementary results: Wang-Landau sampling at fixed values of Δ and a parallelized variant of the multicanonical approach performed at constant temperature T. A detailed finite-size scaling analysis in the regime of second-order phase transitions in the (Δ,T) phase diagram indicates that the transition belongs to the universality class of the four-state Potts model.

Monte Carlo study of the interfacial adsorption of the Blume-Capel model.

We investigate the scaling of the interfacial adsorption of the two-dimensional Blume-Capel model using Monte Carlo simulations. In particular, we study the finite-size scaling behavior of the interfacial adsorption of the pure model at both its first- and second-order transition regimes, as well as at the vicinity of the tricritical point. Our analysis benefits from the currently existing quite accurate estimates of the relevant (tri)critical-point locations.

Interfacial adsorption in two-dimensional pure and random-bond Potts models.

We use Monte Carlo simulations to study the finite-size scaling behavior of the interfacial adsorption of the two-dimensional square-lattice q-states Potts model. We consider the pure and random-bond versions of the Potts model for q=3,4,5,8, and 10, thus probing the interfacial properties at the originally continuous, weak, and strong first-order phase transitions. For the pure systems our results support the early scaling predictions for the size dependence of the interfacial adsorption at both first- and second-order phase transitions.

Critical Binder cumulant and universality: Fortuin-Kasteleyn clusters and order-parameter fluctuations.

We investigate the dependence of the critical Binder cumulant of the magnetization and the largest Fortuin-Kasteleyn cluster on the boundary conditions and aspect ratio of the underlying square Ising lattices. By means of the Swendsen-Wang algorithm, we generate numerical data for large system sizes and we perform a detailed finite-size scaling analysis for several values of the aspect ratio r, for both periodic and free boundary conditions. We estimate the universal probability density functions of the largest Fortuin-Kasteleyn cluster and we compare it to those of the magnetization at criticality.

Critical behavior of the pure and random-bond two-dimensional triangular Ising ferromagnet.

We investigate the effects of quenched bond randomness on the critical properties of the two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model embedded in a triangular lattice. The system is studied in both the pure and disordered versions by the same efficient two-stage Wang-Landau method. In the first part of our study, we present the finite-size scaling behavior of the pure model, for which we calculate the critical amplitude of the specific heat's logarithmic expansion.

Universal features and tail analysis of the order-parameter distribution of the two-dimensional Ising model: an entropic sampling Monte Carlo study.

We present a numerical study of the order-parameter probability density function (PDF) of the square Ising model for lattices with linear sizes L = 80 - 140. A recent efficient entropic sampling scheme, combining the Wang-Landau and broad histogram methods and based on the high levels of the Wang-Landau process in dominant energy subspaces is employed. We find that for large lattices there exists a stable window of the scaled order-parameter in which the full ansatz including the pre-exponential factor for the tail regime of the universal PDF is well obeyed.

Lack of self-averaging of the specific heat in the three-dimensional random-field Ising model.

We apply the recently developed critical minimum-energy subspace scheme for the investigation of the random-field Ising model. We point out that this method is well suited for the study of this model. The density of states is obtained via the Wang-Landau and broad histogram methods in a unified implementation by employing the N-fold version of the Wang-Landau scheme.