Critical finite-size scaling with constraints: Fisher renormalization revisited

Abstract

The influence of a thermodynamic constraint on the critical finite-size scaling behavior of three-dimensional Ising and XY models is analyzed by Monte-Carlo simulations. Within the Ising universality class constraints lead to Fisher renormalized critical exponents, which modify the asymptotic form of the scaling arguments of the universal finite-size scaling functions. Within the XY universality class constraints lead to very slowly decaying corrections inside the scaling arguments, which are governed by the specific heat exponent alpha. If the modification of the scaling arguments is properly taken into account in the scaling analysis of the data, finite-size scaling functions are obtained, which are independent of the constraint as anticipated by analytic theory.