Zero-temperature limit of one-dimensional Gibbs states via renormalization: the case of locally constant potentials

Abstract

Let $A$ be a finite set and $\phi:A^Z\to R$ be a locally constant potential. For each $\beta>0$ ("inverse temperature"), there is a unique Gibbs measure $\mu_{\beta\phi}$. We prove that, as $\beta\to+\infty$, the family $(\mu_{\beta\phi})_{\beta>0}$ converges (in weak-$^*$ topology) to a measure we characterize. It is concentrated on a certain subshift of finite type which is a finite union of transitive subshifts of finite type. The two main tools are an approximation by periodic orbits and the Perron-Frobenius Theorem for matrices \'a la Birkhoff. The crucial idea we bring is a "renormalization" procedure which explains convergence and provides a recursive algorithm to compute the weights of the ergodic decomposition of the limit.