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With intensive Monte Carlo simulations and finite size scaling we undertake a percolation analysis of Wegner's three-dimensional $\mathbb{Z}_2$ lattice gauge model in equilibrium. We confirm that the loops threading excited plaquettes percolate at the thermal critical point $T_{\rm c}$ and we show that their critical exponents coincide with the ones of the loop representation of the dual 3D Ising model. We then construct Fortuin-Kasteleyn (FK) clusters using a random-cluster representation and find that they also percolate at $T_c$ and moreover give access to all thermal critical exponents. The Binder cumulants of the percolation order parameter of both loops and FK clusters demonstrate a pseudo first order transition. This study sheds light on the critical properties of quantum error correction and lattice gauge theories.

This paper investigates various geometrical properties of interfaces of the two-dimensional voter model. Despite its simplicity, the model exhibits dual characteristics, resembling both a critical system with long-range correlations, while also showing a tendency towards order similar to the Ising-Glauber model at zero temperature. This duality is reflected in the geometrical properties of its interfaces, which are examined here from the perspective of Schramm-Loewner evolution. Recent studies have delved into the geometrical properties of these interfaces within different lattice geometries and boundary conditions. We revisit these findings, focusing on a system within a box of linear size $L$ with Dobrushin boundary conditions, where values of the spins are fixed to either $+1$ or $-1$ on two distinct halves of the boundary, in order to enforce the presence of a pinned interface with fixed endpoints (or chordal interface). We also expand the study to compare the geometrical properties of the interfaces of the voter model with those of the critical Ising model and other related models. Scaling arguments and numerical studies suggest that, while locally the chordal interface of the voter model has fractal dimension $d_{\rm f}=3/2$, corresponding to a parameter $\kappa=4$, it becomes straight at large scales, confirming a conjecture made by Holmes et al \citeholmes, and ruling out the possibility of describing the chordal interface of the voter model by SLE$_{\kappa}$, for any non zero value of $\kappa$. This contrasts with the critical Ising model, which is described by SLE$_3$, and whose interface fluctuations remain of order $L$, and more generally with related critical models, which are in the same universality class.

Finite-size scaling above the upper critical dimension is a long-standing puzzle in the field of Statistical Physics. Even for pure systems various scaling theories have been suggested, partially corroborated by numerical simulations. In the present manuscript we address this problem in the even more complicated case of disordered systems. In particular, we investigate the scaling behavior of the random-field Ising model at dimension $D = 7$, i.e., above its upper critical dimension $D_{\rm u} = 6$, by employing extensive ground-state numerical simulations. Our results confirm the hypothesis that at dimensions $D > D_{\rm u}$, linear length scale $L$ should be replaced in finite-size scaling expressions by the effective scale $L_{\rm eff} = L^{D / D_{\rm u}}$. Via a fitted version of the quotients method that takes this modification, but also subleading scaling corrections into account, we compute the critical point of the transition for Gaussian random fields and provide estimates for the full set of critical exponents. Thus, our analysis indicates that this modified version of finite-size scaling is successful also in the context of the random-field problem.

The $\pm J$ Ising model is a simple frustrated spin model, where the exchange couplings independently take the discrete value $-J$ with probability $p$ and $+J$ with probability $1-p$. It is especially appealing due to its connection to quantum error correcting codes. Here, we investigate the nonequilibrium critical behavior of the two-dimensional $\pm J$ Ising model, after a quench from different initial conditions to a critical point $T_c(p)$ on the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic (PF) transition line, especially, above, below and at the multicritical Nishimori point (NP). The dynamical critical exponent $z_c$ seems to exhibit non-universal behavior for quenches above and below the NP, which is identified as a pre-asymptotic feature due to the repulsive fixed point at the NP. Whereas, for a quench directly to the NP, the dynamics reaches the asymptotic regime with $z_c \simeq 6.02(6)$. We also consider the geometrical spin clusters (of like spin signs) during the critical dynamics. Each universality class on the PF line is uniquely characterized by the stochastic Loewner evolution (SLE) with corresponding parameter $\kappa$. Moreover, for the critical quenches from the paramagnetic phase, the model, irrespective of the frustration, exhibits an emergent critical percolation topology at the large length scales.

We study the bi-dimensional $q$-Potts model with long-range bond correlated disorder. Similarly to [C. Chatelain, Phys. Rev. E 89, 032105], we implement a disorder bimodal distribution by coupling the Potts model to auxiliary spin-variables, which are correlated with a power-law decaying function. The universal behaviour of different observables, especially the thermal and the order-parameter critical exponents, are computed by Monte-Carlo techniques for $q=1,2,3$-Potts models for different values of the power-law decaying exponent $a$. On the basis of our conclusions, which are in agreement with previous theoretical and numerical results for $q=1$ and $q=2$, we can conjecture the phase diagram for $q\in [1,4]$. In particular, we establish that the system is driven to a fixed point at finite or infinite long-range disorder depending on the values of $q$ and $a$. Finally, we discuss the role of the higher cumulants of the disorder distribution. This is done by drawning the auxiliary spin-variables from different statistical models. While the main features of the phase diagram depend only on the first and second cumulant, we argue, for the infinite disorder fixed point, that certain universal effects are affected by the higher cumulants of the disorder distribution.

We study the quench dynamics of the $q$ Potts model on different bi/tri-dimensional lattice topologies. In particular we are interested in instantaneous quenches from $T_i \rightarrow \infty$ to $T \leq T_s$, where $T_s$ is the (pseudo)-spinodal temperature. The goal is to explain why, in the large-$q$ limit, the low-temperature dynamics freezes on some lattices while, on others, the equilibrium configuration is easily reached. The cubic ($3d$) and the triangular ($2d$) lattices are analysed in detail. We show that the dynamics blocks when lattices have acyclic \textitunitary structures while the system goes to the equilibrium when these are cyclic, no matter the coordination number ($z$) of the particular considered lattice.

We have considered clusters of like spin in the Q-Potts model, the spin Potts clusters. Using Monte Carlo simulations, we studied these clusters on a square lattice with periodic boundary conditions for values of Q in [1,4]. We continue the work initiated with Delfino and Viti (2013) by measuring the universal finite size corrections of the two-point connectivity. The numerical data are perfectly compatible with the CFT prediction, thus supporting the existence of a consistent CFT, still unknown, describing the connectivity Potts spin clusters. We provided in particular new insights on the energy field of such theory. For Q=2, we found a good agreement with the prediction that the Ising spin clusters behave as the Fortuin-Kasteleyn ones at the tri-critical point of the dilute 1-Potts model. We show that the structure constants are likely to be given by the imaginary Liouville structure constants, consistently with the results of Delfino et al. (2013) and of Ang and Sun (2021). For Q different from 2 instead, the structure constants we measure do not correspond to any known bootstrap solutions. The validity of our analysis is backed up by the measures of the spin Potts clusters wrapping probability for Q=3. We evaluate the main critical exponents and the correction to the scaling. A new exact and compact expression for the torus one-point of the Q-Potts energy field is also given.

We study the kinetics of the two-dimensional q > 4-state Potts model after a shallow quench slightly below the critical temperature and above the pseudo spinodal. We use numerical methods and we focus on intermediate values of q, 4 < q < 100. We show that, initially, the system evolves as if it were quenched to the critical temperature. The further decay from the metastable state occurs by nucleation of k out of the q possible phases. For a given quench temperature, k is a logarithmically increasing function of the system size. This unusual finite size dependence is a consequence of a scaling symmetry underlying the nucleation phenomenon for these parameters.

We study the low temperature quench dynamics of the two-dimensional Potts model in the limit of large number of states, q >> 1. We identify a q-independent crossover temperature (the pseudo spinodal) below which no high-temperature metastability stops the curvature driven coarsening process. At short length scales, the latter is decorated by freezing for some lattice geometries, notably the square one. With simple analytic arguments we evaluate the relevant time-scale in the coarsening regime, which turns out to be of Arrhenius form and independent of q for large q. Once taken into account dynamic scaling is universal.

We consider fractal curves in two-dimensional $Z_N$ spin lattice models. These are N states spin models that undergo a continuous ferromagnetic-paramagnetic phase transition described by the ZN parafermionic field theory. The main motivation here is to investigate the correspondence between Schramm-Loewner evolutions (SLE) and conformal field theories with extended conformal algebras (ECFT). By using Monte-Carlo simulation, we compute the fractal dimension of different spin interfaces for the N=3 and N=4 spin models that correspond respectively to the 3 states Potts model and to the Ashkin-Teller model at the Fateev-Zamolodchikov point. These numerical measures, that improve and complete the ones presented in the previous works, are shown to be consistent with SLE/ECFT predictions. We consider then the crossing probability of spin clusters in a rectangular domain. Using a multiple SLE approach, we provide crossing probability formulas for ZN parafarmionic theories. The parafermionic conformal blocks that enter the crossing probability formula are computed by solving a Knhiznik-Zamolodchikov system of rank 3. In the 3 states Potts model case, where the parafermionic blocks coincide with the Virasoro ones, we rederive the crossing formula found by S.M.Flores et al., that is in good agreement with our measures. For N>=4 where the crossing probability satisfies a third order differential equation instead of a second order one, our formulas are new. The theoretical predictions are compared to Monte-Carlo measures taken at N=4 and a fair agreement is found.

We study the metastable equilibrium properties of the Potts model with heat-bath transition rates using a novel expansion. The method is especially powerful for large number of state spin variables and it is notably accurate in a rather wide range of temperatures around the phase transition.

We consider the two dimensional $Q-$ random-cluster Potts model on the torus and at the critical point. We study the probability for two points to be connected by a cluster for general values of $Q\in [1,4]$. Using a Conformal Field Theory (CFT) approach, we provide the leading topological corrections to the plane limit of this probability. These corrections have universal nature and include, as a special case, the universality class of two-dimensional critical percolation. We compare our predictions to Monte Carlo measurements. Finally, we take Monte Carlo measurements of the torus energy one-point function that we compare to CFT computations.

We present a complementary estimation of the critical exponent $\alpha$ of the specific heat of the 5D random-field Ising model from zero-temperature numerical simulations. Our result $\alpha = 0.12(2)$ is consistent with the estimation coming from the modified hyperscaling relation and provides additional evidence in favor of the recently proposed restoration of dimensional reduction in the random-field Ising model at $D = 5$.

Using large-scale numerical simulations we studied the kinetics of the 2d q-Potts model for q > 4 after a shallow subcritical quench from a high-temperature homogeneous configuration. This protocol drives the system across a first-order phase transition. The initial state is metastable after the quench and, for final temperatures close to the critical one, the system escapes from it via a multi-nucleation process. The ensuing relaxation towards equilibrium proceeds through coarsening with competition between the equivalent ground states. This process has been analyzed for different choices of the parameters such as the number of states and the final quench temperature.

In this contribution we further study the classical disordered p=2 spherical model with Hamiltonian dynamics, or in integrable systems terms, the Neumann model, in the infinite size limit. We summarise the asymptotic results that some of us presented in a recent publication, and we deepen the analysis of the pre-asymptotic dynamics. We also discuss the possible description of the asymptotic steady state with a Generalised Gibbs Ensemble.

We provide a non-trivial test of supersymmetry in the random-field Ising model at five spatial dimensions, by means of extensive zero-temperature numerical simulations. Indeed, supersymmetry relates correlation functions in a D-dimensional disordered system with some other correlation functions in a D-2 clean system. We first show how to check these relationships in a finite-size scaling calculation, and then perform a high-accuracy test. While the supersymmetric predictions are satisfied even to our high-accuracy at D=5, they fail to describe our results at D=4.

We study numerically the coarsening kinetics of a two-dimensional ferromagnetic system with aleatory bond dilution. We show that interfaces between domains of opposite magnetisation are fractal on every lengthscale, but with different properties at short or long distances. Specifically, on lengthscales larger than the typical domains' size the topology is that of critical random percolation, similarly to what observed in clean systems or models with different kinds of quenched disorder. On smaller lengthscales a dilution dependent fractal dimension emerges. The Hausdorff dimension increases with increasing dilution $d$ up to the value $4/3$ expected at the bond percolation threshold $d=1/2$. We discuss how such different geometries develop on different lengthscales during the phase-ordering process and how their simultaneous presence determines the scaling properties of observable quantities.

We study the early time dynamics of bimodal spin systems on $2d$ lattices evolving with different microscopic stochastic updates. We treat the ferromagnetic Ising model with locally conserved order parameter (Kawasaki dynamics), the same model with globally conserved order parameter (nonlocal spin exchanges), and the voter model. As already observed for non-conserved order parameter dynamics (Glauber dynamics), in all the cases in which the stochastic dynamics satisfy detailed balance, the critical percolation state persists over a long period of time before usual coarsening of domains takes over and eventually takes the system to equilibrium. By studying the geometrical and statistical properties of time-evolving spin clusters we are able to identify a characteristic length $\ell_p(t)$, different from the usual length $\ell_d(t) \sim t^{1/z_{d}}$ that describes the late time coarsening, that is involved in all scaling relations in the approach to the critical percolation regime. We find that this characteristic length depends on the particular microscopic dynamics and the lattice geometry. In the case of the voter model, we observe that the system briefly passes through a critical percolation state, to later approach a dynamical regime in which the scaling behaviour of the geometrical properties of the ordered domains can be ascribed to a different criticality.

A fluctuation relation is derived to extract the order parameter function $q(x)$ in weakly ergodic systems. The relation is based on measuring and classifying entropy production fluctuations according to the value of the overlap $q$ between configurations. For a fixed value of $q$, entropy production fluctuations are Gaussian distributed allowing us to derive the quasi-FDT so characteristic of aging systems. The theory is validated by extracting the $q(x)$ in various types of glassy models. It might be generally applicable to other nonequilibrium systems and experimental small systems.

We study the Hamiltonian dynamics of the spherical spin model with fully-connected two-body interactions drawn from a Gaussian probability distribution. In the statistical physics framework, the potential energy is of the so-called $p=2$ spherical disordered kind. Most importantly for our setting, the energy conserving dynamics are equivalent to the ones of the Neumann integrable system. We take initial conditions in thermal equilibrium and we subsequently evolve the configurations with Newton dynamics dictated by a different Hamiltonian. We identify three dynamical phases depending on the parameters that characterise the initial state and the final Hamiltonian. We obtain the \it global dynamical observables with numerical and analytic methods and we show that, in most cases, they are out of thermal equilibrium. We note, however, that for shallow quenches from the condensed phase the dynamics are close to (though not at) thermal equilibrium. Surprisingly enough, for a particular relation between parameters the global observables comply Gibbs-Boltzmann equilibrium. We next set the analysis of the system with finite number of degrees of freedom in terms of $N$ non-linearly coupled modes. We evaluate the mode temperatures and we relate them to the frequency-dependent effective temperature measured with the fluctuation-dissipation relation in the frequency domain, similarly to what was recently proposed for quantum integrable cases. Finally, we analyse the $N-1$ integrals of motion and we use them to show that the system is out of equilibrium in all phases, even for parameters that show an apparent Gibbs-Boltzmann behaviour of global observables. We elaborate on the role played by these constants of motion in the post-quench dynamics and we briefly discuss the possible description of the asymptotic dynamics in terms of a Generalised Gibbs Ensemble.

A lot of progress has been made recently in our understanding of the random-field Ising model thanks to large-scale numerical simulations. In particular, it has been shown that, contrary to previous statements: the critical exponents for different probability distributions of the random fields and for diluted antiferromagnets in a field are the same. Therefore, critical universality, which is a perturbative renormalization-group prediction, holds beyond the validity regime of perturbation theory. Most notably, dimensional reduction is restored at five dimensions, i.e., the exponents of the random-field Ising model at five dimensions and those of the pure Ising ferromagnet at three dimensions are the same.

Through large-scale numerical simulations, we study the phase ordering kinetics of the $2d$ Ising Model after a zero-temperature quench from a high-temperature homogeneous initial condition. Analysing the behaviour of two important quantities -- the winding angle and the pair-connectedness -- we reveal the presence of a percolating structure in the pattern of domains. We focus on the pure case and on the random field and random bond Ising Model.

We show that the equilibrium interfaces in the disordered phase have critical percolation fractal dimension over a wide range of length scales. We confirm that the system falls out of equilibrium at a temperature that depends on the cooling rate as predicted by the Kibble-Zurek argument and we prove that the dynamic growing length once the cooling reaches the critical point satisfies the same scaling. We determine the dynamic scaling properties of the interface winding angle variance and we show that the crossover between critical Ising and critical percolation properties is determined by the growing length reached when the system fell out of equilibrium.

We study the early time dynamics of the 2d ferromagnetic Ising model instantaneously quenched from the disordered to the ordered, low temperature, phase. We evolve the system with kinetic Monte Carlo rules that do not conserve the order parameter. We confirm the rapid approach to random critical percolation in a time-scale that diverges with the system size but is much shorter than the equilibration time. We study the scaling properties of the evolution towards critical percolation and we identify an associated growing length, different from the curvature driven one. By working with the model defined on square, triangular and honeycomb microscopic geometries we establish the dependence of this growing length on the lattice coordination. We discuss the interplay with the usual coarsening mechanism and the eventual fall into and escape from metastability.

The random-field Ising model is one of the few disordered systems where the perturbative renormalization group can be carried out to all orders of perturbation theory. This analysis predicts dimensional reduction, i.e., that the critical properties of the random-field Ising model in $D$ dimensions are identical to those of the pure Ising ferromagnet in $D-2$ dimensions. It is well known that dimensional reduction is not true in three dimensions, thus invalidating the perturbative renormalization group prediction. Here, we report high-precision numerical simulations of the 5D random-field Ising model at zero temperature. We illustrate universality by comparing different probability distributions for the random fields. We compute all the relevant critical exponents (including the critical slowing down exponent for the ground-state finding algorithm), as well as several other renormalization-group invariants. The estimated values of the critical exponents of the 5D random-field Ising model are statistically compatible to those of the pure 3D Ising ferromagnet. These results support the restoration of dimensional reduction at $D = 5$. We thus conclude that the failure of the perturbative renormalization group is a low-dimensional phenomenon. We close our contribution by comparing universal quantities for the random-field problem at dimensions $3 \leq D < 6$ to their values in the pure Ising model at $D-2$ dimensions and we provide a clear verification of the Rushbrooke equality at all studied dimensions.

We report a high-precision numerical estimation of the critical exponent $\alpha$ of the specific heat of the random-field Ising model in four dimensions. Our result $\alpha = 0.12(1)$ indicates a diverging specific-heat behavior and is consistent with the estimation coming from the modified hyperscaling relation using our estimate of $\theta$ via the anomalous dimensions $\eta$ and $\bar{\eta}$. Our analysis benefited form a high-statistics zero-temperature numerical simulation of the model for two distributions of the random fields, namely a Gaussian and Poissonian distribution, as well as recent advances in finite-size scaling and reweighting methods for disordered systems. An original estimate of the critical slowing down exponent $z$ of the maximum-flow algorithm used is also provided.

By studying numerically the phase-ordering kinetics of a two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model with quenched disorder -- either random bonds or random fields -- we show that a critical percolation structure forms in an early stage and is then progressively compactified by the ensuing coarsening process. Results are compared with the non-disordered case, where a similar phenomenon is observed, and interpreted within a dynamical scaling framework.

We study four-point functions of critical percolation in two dimensions, and more generally of the Potts model. We propose an exact ansatz for the spectrum: an infinite, discrete and non-diagonal combination of representations of the Virasoro algebra. Based on this ansatz, we compute four-point functions using a numerical conformal bootstrap approach. The results agree with Monte-Carlo computations of connectivities of random clusters.

Binary mixtures prepared in an homogeneous phase and quenched into a two-phase region phase-separate via a coarsening process whereby domains of the two phases grow in time. With a numerical study of a spin-exchange model we show that this dynamics first takes a system with equal density of the two species to a critical percolation state. We prove this claim and we determine the time-dependence of the growing length associated to this process with the scaling analysis of the statistical and morphological properties of the clusters of the two phases.

By performing a high-statistics simulation of the $D=4$ random-field Ising model at zero temperature for different shapes of the random-field distribution, we show that the model is ruled by a single universality class. We compute to a high accuracy the complete set of critical exponents for this class, including the correction-to-scaling exponent. Our results indicate that in four dimensions: (i) dimensional reduction as predicted by the perturbative renormalization group does not hold and (ii) three independent critical exponents are needed to described the transition.

We study the bidimensional voter model on a square lattice with numerical simulations. We demonstrate that the evolution takes place in two distinct dynamic regimes; a first approach towards critical site percolation and a further approach towards full consensus. We calculate the time-dependence of the two growing lengths finding that they are both algebraic though with different exponents (apart from possible logarithmic corrections). We analyse the morphology and statistics of clusters of voters with the same opinion. We compare these results to the ones for curvature driven two-dimensional coarsening.

We study the evolution of spin clusters on two dimensional slices of the $3d$ Ising model in contact with a heat bath after a sudden quench to a subcritical temperature. We analyze the evolution of some simple initial configurations, such as a sphere and a torus, of one phase embedded into the other, to confirm that their area disappears linearly in time and to establish the temperature dependence of the prefactor in each case. Two generic kinds of initial states are later used: equilibrium configurations either at infinite temperature or at the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic phase transition. We investigate the morphological domain structure of the coarsening configurations on $2d$ slices of the $3d$ system, comparing with the behavior of the bidimensional model.

We present very accurate numerical estimates of the time and size dependence of the zero-temperature local persistence in the $2d$ ferromagnetic Ising model. We show that the effective exponent decays algebraically to an asymptotic value $\theta$ that depends upon the initial condition. More precisely, we find that $\theta$ takes one universal value $0.199(2)$ for initial conditions with short-range spatial correlations as in a paramagnetic state, and the value $0.033(1)$ for initial conditions with the long-range spatial correlations of the critical Ising state. We checked universality by working with a square and a triangular lattice, and by imposing free and periodic boundary conditions. We found that the effective exponent suffers from stronger finite size effects in the former case.

We present numerical simulations for the diluted antiferromagnetic 3D Ising model (DAFF) in an external magnetic field at zero temperature. Our results are compatible with the DAFF being in the same universality class as the Random Field Ising model, in agreement with the renormalization group prediction.

We study the transient between a fully disordered initial condition and a percolating structure in the low-temperature non-conserved order parameter dynamics of the bi-dimensional Ising model. We show that a stable structure of spanning clusters establishes at a time $t_p \simeq L^{\alpha_p}$. Our numerical results yield $\alpha_p=0.50(2)$ for the square and kagome, $\alpha_p=0.33(2)$ for the triangular and $\alpha_p=0.38(5)$ for the bowtie-a lattices.We generalise the dynamic scaling hypothesis to take into account this new time-scale. We discuss the implications of these results for other non-equilibrium processes.

We present numerical simulations of the random field Ising model in three dimensions at zero temperature. The critical exponents are found to agree with previous results. We study the magnetic susceptibility by applying a small magnetic field perturbation. We find that the critical amplitude ratio of the magnetic susceptibilities to be very large, equal to 233.1 \pm 1.5. We find strong sample to sample fluctuations which obey finite size scaling. The probability distribution of the size of small energy excitations is maximally non-self averaging, obeying a double peak distribution, and is finite size scaling invariant. We also study the approach to the thermodynamic limit of the ground state magnetization at the phase transition.

We study numerically the fractal dimensions and the bulk three-point connectivity for the spin clusters of the Q-state Potts model in two dimensions with $1\leq Q\leq 4$. We check that the usually invoked correspondence between FK clusters and spin clusters works at the level of fractal dimensions. However, the fine structure of the conformal field theories describing critical clusters first manifests at the level of the three-point connectivities. Contrary to what recently found for FK clusters, no obvious relation emerges for generic Q between the spin cluster connectivity and the structure constants obtained from analytic continuation of the minimal model ones. The numerical results strongly suggest then that spin and FK clusters are described by conformal field theories with different realizations of the color symmetry of the Potts model.

In this work we study numerically the final state of the two dimensional ferromagnetic critical Ising model after a quench to zero temperature. Beginning from equilibrium at $T_c$, the system can be blocked in a variety of infinitely long lived stripe states in addition to the ground state. Similar results have already been obtained for an infinite temperature initial condition and an interesting connection to exact percolation crossing probabilities has emerged. Here we complete this picture by providing a new example of stripe states precisely related to initial crossing probabilities for various boundary conditions. We thus show that this is not specific to percolation but rather that it depends on the properties of spanning clusters in the initial state.

Recently, two of us argued that the probability that an FK cluster in the Q-state Potts model connects three given points is related to the time-like Liouville three-point correlation function. Moreover, they predicted that the FK three-point connectivity has a prefactor which unveils the effects of a discrete symmetry, reminiscent of the S_Q permutation symmetry of the Q=2,3,4 Potts model. Their theoretical prediction has been checked for the case of percolation, corresponding to Q=1. We revisit the derivation of the time-like Liouville correlator given by Al. Zamolodchikov and show that this is the the only consistent analytic continuation of the minimal model structure constants. We then present strong numerical tests of the relation between the time-like Liouville correlator and percolative properties of the FK clusters for real values of Q.

A fluctuation relation for aging systems is introduced, and verified by extensive numerical simulations. It is based on the hypothesis of partial equilibration over phase space regions in a scenario of entropy-driven relaxation. The relation provides a simple alternative method, amenable of experimental implementation, to measure replica symmetry breaking parameters in aging systems. The connection with the effective temperatures obtained from the fluctuation-dissipation theorem is discussed.

We study the ferromagnetic Ising model with long-range interactions in two dimensions. We first present results of a Monte Carlo study which shows that the long-range interactions dominate over the short-range ones in the intermediate regime of interaction range. Based on a renormalization group analysis, we propose a way of computing the influence of the long-range interactions as a dimensional change.

We present results of a Monte Carlo study for the ferromagnetic Ising model with long range interactions in two dimensions. This model has been simulated for a large range of interaction parameter $\sigma$ and for large sizes. We observe that the results close to the change of regime from intermediate to short range do not agree with the renormalization group predictions.

We study the geometric properties of a system initially in equilibrium at a critical point that is suddenly quenched to another critical point and subsequently evolves towards the new equilibrium state. We focus on the bidimensional Ising model and we use numerical methods to characterize the morphological and statistical properties of spin and Fortuin-Kasteleyn clusters during the critical evolution. The analysis of the dynamics of an out of equilibrium interface is also performed. We show that the small scale properties, smaller than the target critical growing length $\xi(t) \sim t^{1/z}$ with $z$ the dynamic exponent, are characterized by equilibrium at the working critical point, while the large scale properties, larger than the critical growing length, are those of the initial critical point. These features are similar to what was found for sub-critical quenches. We argue that quenches between critical points could be amenable to a more detailed analytical description.

We report on the numerical measures on different spin interfaces and FK cluster boundaries in the Askhin-Teller (AT) model. For a general point on the AT critical line, we find that the fractal dimension of a generic spin cluster interface can take one of four different possible values. In particular we found spin interfaces whose fractal dimension is d_f=3/2 all along the critical line. Further, the fractal dimension of the boundaries of FK clusters were found to satisfy all along the AT critical line a duality relation with the fractal dimension of their outer boundaries. This result provides a clear numerical evidence that such duality, which is well known in the case of the O(n) model, exists in a extended CFT.

We present an extensive study of interfaces defined in the Z_4 spin lattice representation of the Ashkin-Teller (AT) model. In particular, we numerically compute the fractal dimensions of boundary and bulk interfaces at the Fateev-Zamolodchikov point. This point is a special point on the self-dual critical line of the AT model and it is described in the continuum limit by the Z_4 parafermionic theory. Extending on previous analytical and numerical studies [10,12], we point out the existence of three different values of fractal dimensions which characterize different kind of interfaces. We argue that this result may be related to the classification of primary operators of the parafermionic algebra. The scenario emerging from the studies presented here is expected to unveil general aspects of geometrical objects of critical AT model, and thus of c=1 critical theories in general.

We present a theoretical variational approach, based on the effective mass approximation (EMA), to study the quantum-confinement Stark effects for spherical semiconducting quantum dots in the strong confinement regime of interactive electron-hole pair and limiting weak electric field. The respective roles of the Coulomb potential and the polarization energy are investigated in details. Under reasonable physical assumptions, analytical calculations can be performed. They clearly indicate that the Stark shift is a quadratic function of the electric field amplitude in the regime of study. The resulting numerical values are found to be in good agreement with experimental data over a significant domain of validity.

The issue of quantum size effects of interactive electron-hole systems in spherical semiconductor quantum dots is put to question. A sharper theoretical approach is suggested based on a new pseudo-potential method. In this new setting, analytical computations can be performed in most intermediate steps lending stronger support to the adopted physical assumptions. The resulting numerical values for physical quantities are found to be much closer to the experimental values than those existing so far in the literature.

We present measurements of the fractal dimensions associated to the geometrical clusters for Z_4 and Z_5 spin models. We also attempted to measure similar fractal dimensions for the generalised Fortuyin Kastelyn (FK) clusters in these models but we discovered that these clusters do not percolate at the critical point of the model under consideration. These results clearly mark a difference in the behaviour of these non local objects compared to the Ising model or the 3-state Potts model which corresponds to the simplest cases of Z_N spin models with N=2 and N=3 respectively. We compare these fractal dimensions with the ones obtained for SLE interfaces.

We study geometrical properties of interfaces in the random-temperature q-states Potts model as an example of a conformal field theory weakly perturbed by quenched disorder. Using conformal perturbation theory in q-2 we compute the fractal dimension of Fortuin Kasteleyn domain walls. We also compute it numerically both via the Wolff cluster algorithm for q=3 and via transfer-matrix evaluations. We obtain numerical results for the fractal dimension of spin cluster interfaces for q=3. These are found numerically consistent with the duality kappa(spin) * kappa(FK)= 16 as expressed in putative SLE parameters.

We study the coarsening dynamics of the three-dimensional random field Ising model using Monte Carlo numerical simulations. We test the dynamic scaling and super-scaling properties of global and local two-time observables. We treat in parallel the three-dimensional Edward-Anderson spin-glass and we recall results on Lennard-Jones mixtures and colloidal suspensions to highlight the common and different out of equilibrium properties of these glassy systems.

The Schramm-Loewner evolution (SLE) is a powerful tool to describe fractal interfaces in 2D critical statistical systems. Yet the application of SLE is well established for statistical systems described by quantum field theories satisfying only conformal invariance, the so called minimal conformal field theories (CFTs). We consider interfaces in Z(N) spin models at their self-dual critical point for N=4 and N=5. These lattice models are described in the continuum limit by non-minimal CFTs where the role of a Z_N symmetry, in addition to the conformal one, should be taken into account. We provide numerical results on the fractal dimension of the interfaces which are SLE candidates for non-minimal CFTs. Our results are in excellent agreement with some recent theoretical predictions.

We study numerically spatio-temporal fluctuations during the out-of-equilibrium relaxation of the three-dimensional Edwards-Anderson model. We focus on two issues. (1) The evolution of a growing dynamical length scale in the glassy phase of the model, and the consequent collapse of the distribution of local coarse-grained correlations measured at different pairs of times on a single function using \it two scaling parameters, the value of the global correlation at the measuring times and the ratio of the coarse graining length to the dynamical length scale (in the thermodynamic limit). (2) The `triangular' relation between coarse-grained local correlations at three pairs of times taken from the ordered instants $t_3 \leq t_2 \leq t_1$. Property (1) is consistent with the conjecture that the development of time-reparametrization invariance asymptotically is responsible for the main dynamic fluctuations in aging glassy systems as well as with other mechanisms proposed in the literature. Property (2), we stress, is a much stronger test of the relevance of the time-reparametrization invariance scenario.

The random-bond Ising model on the square lattice has several disordered critical points, depending on the probability distribution of the bonds. There are a finite-temperature multicritical point, called Nishimori point, and a zero-temperature fixed point, for both a binary distribution where the coupling constants take the values +/- J and a Gaussian disorder distribution. Inclusion of dilution in the +/- J distribution (J=0 for some bonds) gives rise to another zero-temperature fixed point which can be identified with percolation in the non-frustrated case (J >= 0). We study these fixed points using numerical (transfer matrix) methods. We determine the location, critical exponents, and central charge of the different fixed points and study the spin-spin correlation functions. Our main findings are the following: (1) We confirm that the Nishimori point is universal with respect to the type of disorder, i.e. we obtain the same central charge and critical exponents for the +/- J and Gaussian distributions of disorder. (2) The Nishimori point, the zero-temperature fixed point for the +/- J and Gaussian distributions of disorder, and the percolation point in the diluted case all belong to mutually distinct universality classes. (3) The paramagnetic phase is re-entrant below the Nishimori point, i.e. the zero-temperature fixed points are not located exactly below the Nishimori point, neither for the +/- J distribution, nor for the Gaussian distribution.

We present some numerical results for the Heisenberg spin-glass model with Gaussian interactions, in a three dimensional cubic lattice. We measure the AC susceptibility as a function of temperature and determine an apparent finite temperature transition which is compatible with the chiral-glass temperature transition for this model. The relaxation time diverges like a power law $\tau\sim (T-T_c)^{-z\nu}$ with $T_c=0.19(4)$ and $z\nu=5.0(5)$. Although our data indicates that the spin-glass transition occurs at the same temperature as the chiral glass transition, we cannot exclude the possibility of a chiral-spin coupling scenario for the lowest frequencies investigated.

We present selfdual manifolds for coupled Potts models on the triangular lattice. We exploit two different techniques: duality followed by decimation, and mapping to a related loop model. The latter technique is found to be superior, and it allows to include three-spin couplings. Starting from three coupled models, such couplings are necessary for generating selfdual solutions. A numerical study of the case of two coupled models leads to the identification of novel critical points.

In a previous paper we found that in the random field Ising model at zero temperature in three dimensions the correlation length is not self-averaging near the critical point and that the violation of self-averaging is maximal. This is due to the formation of bound states in the underlying field theory. We present a similar study for the case of disordered Potts and Ising ferromagnets in two dimensions near the critical temperature. In the random Potts model the correlation length is not self-averaging near the critical temperature but the violation of self-averaging is weaker than in the random field case. In the random Ising model we find still weaker violations of self-averaging and we cannot rule out the possibility of the restoration of self-averaging in the infinite volume limit.

We study the universality class of the fixed points of the 2D random bond q-state Potts model by means of numerical transfer matrix methods. In particular, we determine the critical exponents associated with the fixed point on the Nishimori line. Precise measurements show that the universality class of this fixed point is inconsistent with percolation on Potts clusters for q=2, corresponding to the Ising model, and q=3

In a previous paper (cond-mat/0106554) we showed the existence of two new zero-temperature exponents (\lambda and \theta') in two dimensional Gaussian spin glasses. Here we introduce a novel low-temperature expansion for spin glasses expressed in terms of the gap probability distributions for successive energy levels. After presenting the numerical evidence in favor of a random-energy levels scenario, we analyze the main consequences on the low-temperature equilibrium behavior. We find that the specific heat is anomalous at low-temperatures c ~ T**\alpha with \alpha=-d/\theta' which turns out to be linear for the case \theta'=-d.

A detailed investigation of lowest excitations in two-dimensional Gaussian spin glasses is presented. We show the existence of a new zero-temperature exponent lambda describing the relative number of finite-volume excitations with respect to large-scale ones. This exponent yields the standard thermal exponent of droplet theory theta through the relation, theta=d(lambda-1). Our work provides a new way to measure the thermal exponent theta without any assumption about the procedure to generate typical low-lying excitations. We find clear evidence that theta < theta_DW where theta_DW is the thermal exponent obtained in domain-wall theory showing that MacMillan excitations are not typical.

The two-dimensional q-state Potts model is subjected to a Z_q symmetric disorder that allows for the existence of a Nishimori line. At q=2, this model coincides with the +/- J random-bond Ising model. For q>2, apart from the usual pure and zero-temperature fixed points, the ferro/paramagnetic phase boundary is controlled by two critical fixed points: a weak disorder point, whose universality class is that of the ferromagnetic bond-disordered Potts model, and a strong disorder point which generalizes the usual Nishimori point. We numerically study the case q=3, tracing out the phase diagram and precisely determining the critical exponents. The universality class of the Nishimori point is inconsistent with percolation on Potts clusters.

We present a method for classifying conformal field theories based on Coulomb gases (bosonic free-field construction). Given a particular geometric configuration of the screening charges, we give necessary conditions for the existence of degenerate representations and for the closure of the vertex-operator algebra. The resulting classification contains, but is more general than, the standard one based on classical Lie algebras. We then apply the method to the Coulomb gas theory for the two-flavoured loop model of Jacobsen and Kondev. The purpose of the study is to clarify the relation between Coulomb gas models and conformal field theories with extended symmetries.

We present a detailed study of the scaling behavior of correlations functions and AC susceptibility relaxations in the aging regime in three dimensional spin glasses. The agreement between simulations and experiments is excellent confirming the validity of the full aging scenario with logarithmic corrections which manifests as weak sub-aging effects.

We study the universality class of the Nishimori point in the 2D +/- J random-bond Ising model by means of the numerical transfer-matrix method. Using the domain-wall free-energy, we locate the position of the fixed point along the Nishimori line at the critical concentration value p_c = 0.1094 +/- 0.0002 and estimate nu = 1.33 +/- 0.03. Then, we obtain the exponents for the moments of the spin-spin correlation functions as well as the value for the central charge c = 0.464 +/- 0.004. The main qualitative result is the fact that percolation is now excluded as a candidate for describing the universality class of this fixed point.

The use of parameters measuring order-parameter fluctuations (OPF) has been encouraged by the recent results reported in \citeRS which show that two of these parameters, $G$ and $G_c$, take universal values in the $\lim_{T\to 0}$. In this paper we present a detailed study of parameters measuring OPF for two mean-field models with and without time-reversal symmetry which exhibit different patterns of replica symmetry breaking below the transition: the Sherrington-Kirkpatrick model with and without a field and the Ising p-spin glass (p=3). We give numerical results and analyze the consequences which replica equivalence imposes on these models in the infinite volume. We give evidence for the transition in each system and discuss the character of finite-size effects. Furthermore, a comparative study between this new family of parameters and the usual Binder cumulant analysis shows what kind of new information can be extracted from the finite $T$ behavior of these quantities. The two main outcomes of this work are: 1) Parameters measuring OPF give better estimates than the Binder cumulant for $T_c$ and even for very small systems they give evidence for the transition. 2) For systems with no time-reversal symmetry, parameters defined in terms of connected quantities are the proper ones to look at.

We investigate chaotic, memory and cooling rate effects in the three dimensional Edwards-Anderson model by doing thermoremanent (TRM) and AC susceptibility numerical experiments and making a detailed comparison with laboratory experiments on spin glasses. In contrast to the experiments, the Edwards-Anderson model does not show any trace of re-initialization processes in temperature change experiments (TRM or AC). A detailed comparison with AC relaxation experiments in the presence of DC magnetic field or coupling distribution perturbations reveals that the absence of chaotic effects in the Edwards-Anderson model is a consequence of the presence of strong cooling rate effects. We discuss possible solutions to this discrepancy, in particular the smallness of the time scales reached in numerical experiments, but we also question the validity of the Edwards-Anderson model to reproduce the experimental results.