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Topology and phase transitions: a paradigmatic evidence

Roberto Franzosi, Marco Pettini, Lionel Spinelli

cond-mat.stat-mecharXiv:cond-mat/9911235

Abstract

We report upon the numerical computation of the Euler characteristic χ(a topologic invariant) of the equipotential hypersurfaces Σv of the configuration space of the two-dimensional lattice ϕ4 model. The pattern χ(Σv) vs. v (potential energy) reveals that a major topology change in the family Σvv∈ R is at the origin of the phase transition in the model considered. The direct evidence given here - of the relevance of topology for phase transitions - is obtained through a general method that can be applied to any other model.

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