The one-dimensional Ising model consists of a set of N spins si with Hamiltonian
H=−Ji=1∑Nsisi+1−2Bi=1∑N(si+si+1)
where periodic boundary conditions are imposed so sN+1=s1. Here J is a positive coupling constant and B is an external magnetic field. Define a 2×2 matrix M with elements
Mst=exp[βJst+2βB(s+t)]
where indices s,t take values ±1 and β=(kT)−1 with k Boltzmann's constant and T temperature.
(a) Prove that the partition function of the Ising model can be written as
Z=Tr(MN)
Calculate the eigenvalues of M and hence determine the free energy in the thermodynamic limit N→∞. Explain why the Ising model does not exhibit a phase transition in one dimension.
(b) Consider the case of zero magnetic field B=0. The correlation function ⟨sisj⟩ is defined by
⟨sisj⟩=Z1{sk}∑sisje−βH
(i) Show that, for i>1,
⟨s1si⟩=Z1s,t∑st(Mi−1)st(MN−i+1)ts
(ii) By diagonalizing M, or otherwise, calculate Mp for any positive integer p. Hence show that
⟨s1si⟩=1+tanhN(βJ)tanhi−1(βJ)+tanhN−i+1(βJ)