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6.3: Lee-Yang Theory

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Analytic Properties of the Partition Function

How can statistical mechanics describe phase transitions? This question was addressed in some beautiful mathematical analysis by Lee and Yang7. Consider the grand partition function Ξ,

Ξ(T,V,z)=N=0zNQN(T,V)λdNT ,

where

QN(T,V)=1N!ddx1ddxNeU(x1,,xN)/kBT

is the contribution to the N-particle partition function from the potential energy U (assuming no momentum-dependent potentials). For two-body central potentials, we have

U(x1,,xN)=i<jv(|xixj|).

Suppose further that these classical particles have hard cores. Then for any finite volume, there must be some maximum number NV such that QN(T,V) vanishes for N>NV. This is because if N>NV at least two spheres must overlap, in which case the potential energy is infinite. The theoretical maximum packing density for hard spheres is achieved for a hexagonal close packed (HCP) lattice8, for which fHCP=π32=0.74048. If the spheres have radius r0, then NV=V/42r30 is the maximum particle number.

Thus, if V itself is finite, then Ξ(T,V,z) is a finite degree polynomial in z, and may be factorized as

Ξ(T,V,z)=NVN=0zNQN(T,V)λdNT=NVk=1(1zzk) ,

where zk(T,V) is one of the NV zeros of the grand partition function. Note that the O(z0) term is fixed to be unity. Note also that since the configuration integrals QN(T,V) are all positive, Ξ(z) is an increasing function along the positive real z axis. In addition, since the coefficients of zN in the polynomial Ξ(z) are all real, then Ξ(z)=0 implies ¯Ξ(z)=Ξ(ˉz)=0, so the zeros of Ξ(z) are either real and negative or else come in complex conjugate pairs.

Singularities of the partition function.
Figure 6.3.1: In the thermodynamic limit, the grand partition function can develop a singularity at positive real fugacity z. The set of discrete zeros fuses into a branch cut.

For finite NV, the situation is roughly as depicted in the left panel of Figure 6.3.1, with a set of NV zeros arranged in complex conjugate pairs (or negative real values). The zeros aren’t necessarily distributed along a circle as shown in the figure, though. They could be anywhere, so long as they are symmetrically distributed about the Re(z) axis, and no zeros occur for z real and nonnegative.

Lee and Yang proved the existence of the limits

pkBT=limV1VlnΞ(T,V,z)n=limVzz[1VlnΞ(T,V,z)] ,

and notably the result

n=zz(pkBT) ,

which amounts to the commutativity of the thermodynamic limit V with the differential operator zz. In particular, p(T,z) is a smooth function of z in regions free of roots. If the roots do coalesce and pinch the positive real axis, then then density n can be discontinuous, as in a first order phase transition, or a higher derivative jp/nj can be discontinuous or divergent, as in a second order phase transition.

Electrostatic Analogy

There is a beautiful analogy to the theory of two-dimensional electrostatics. We write

pkBT=1VNVk=1ln(1zzk)=NVk=1[ϕ(zzk)ϕ(0zk)] ,

where

ϕ(z)=1Vln(z)

is the complex potential due to a line charge of linear density λ=V1 located at origin. The number density is then

n=zz(pkBT)=zzNVk=1ϕ(zzk) ,

to be evaluated for physical values of z, zR+. Since ϕ(z) is analytic,

ϕˉz=12ϕx+i2ϕy=0 .

If we decompose the complex potential ϕ=ϕ1+iϕ2 into real and imaginary parts, the condition of analyticity is recast as the Cauchy-Riemann equations,

ϕ1x=ϕ2y,ϕ1y=ϕ2x .

Thus,

ϕz=12ϕx+i2ϕy=12(ϕ1x+ϕ2y)+i2(ϕ1yϕ2x)=ϕ1x+iϕ1y=ExiEy ,

where E=ϕ1 is the electric field. Suppose, then, that as V a continuous charge distribution develops, which crosses the positive real z axis at a point xR+. Then

n+nx=Ex(x+)Ex(x)=4πσ(x) ,

where σ is the linear charge density (assuming logarithmic two-dimensional potentials), or the two-dimensional charge density (if we extend the distribution along a third axis).

Example

As an example, consider the function

Ξ(z)=(1+z)M(1zM)1z=(1+z)M(1+z+z2++zM1) .

The (2M1) degree polynomial has an Mth order zero at z=1 and (M1) simple zeros at z=e2πik/M, where k{1,,M1}. Since M serves as the maximum particle number NV, we may assume that V=Mv0, and the V limit may be taken as M. We then have

pkBT=limV1VlnΞ(z)=1v0limM1MlnΞ(z)=1v0limM1M[Mln(1+z)+ln(1zM)ln(1z)] .

The limit depends on whether |z|>1 or |z|<1, and we obtain

pv0kBT={ln(1+z) if |z|<1[ln(1+z)+lnz] if |z|>1 .

clipboard_e35f18df4532dc0106c9b30f02cc67c44.png
Figure 6.3.2: Fugacity z and pv0/kBT versus dimensionless specific volume v/v0 for the example problem discussed in the text.

Thus,

n=zz(pkBT)={1v0z1+z if |z|<11v0[z1+z+1] if |z|>1 .

If we solve for z(v), where v=n1, we find

z={v0vv0 if v>2v0v0v2vv0 if 12v0<v<23v0 .

We then obtain the equation of state,

pv0kBT={ln(vvv0) if v>2v0ln2 if 23v0<v<2v0ln(v(v0v)(2vv0)2) if 12v0<v<23v0 .


This page titled 6.3: Lee-Yang Theory is shared under a CC BY-NC-SA license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Daniel Arovas.

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