Skip to main content
Log in

Mean field theory of directed polymers with random complex weights

  • Published:
Communications in Mathematical Physics Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

We show that for the problem of directed polymers on a tree with i.i.d. random complex weights on each bond, three possible phases can exist; the phase of a particular system is determined by the distribution ρ of the random weights. For each of these three phases, we give the expression of the free energy per unit length in the limit of infinitely long polymers. Our proofs require several hypotheses on the distribution ρ, most importantly, that the amplitude and the phase of each complex weight be statistically independent. The main steps of our proofs use bounds on noninteger moments of the partition function and self averaging properties of the free energy. We illustrate our results by some examples and discuss possible generalizations to a larger class of distributions, to Random Energy Models, and to the finite dimensional case. We note that our results are not in agreement with the predictions of a recent replica approach to a similar problem.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

We’re sorry, something doesn't seem to be working properly.

Please try refreshing the page. If that doesn't work, please contact support so we can address the problem.

References

  1. Bolthausen, E.: A note on the diffusion of directed polymers in a random environment. Commun. Math. Phys.123, 529–534 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  2. Buffet, E., Patrick, A., Pulé, J.V.: Directed Polymers on Trees: a Martingale Approach. J. Phys. A26, 1823–1834 (1993)

    Google Scholar 

  3. Chauvin, B., Rouault, A.: KPP equation and supercritical branching Brownian motion in the subcritical speed area. Application to spatial trees. Prob. Th. and Relat. Fields80, 299–314 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  4. Cook, J., Derrida, B.: Polymers on disordered hierarchical lattices: A nonlinear combination of random variables. J. Stat. Phys.57, 89–139 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  5. Cook, J., Derrida, B.: Lyapounov exponents of large, sparse random matrices and the problem of directed polymers with complex random weights. J. Stat. Phys.61, 961–986 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  6. Dekking, F.M.: A nonlinear evolution with travelling waves. In: Luck, J.M., Moussa, P., Waldschmidt, M. (eds), Number Theory and Physics. Proceedings in Physics47, pp. 204–208. Berlin, Heidelberg, New York: Springer 1990

    Google Scholar 

  7. Derrida, B.: Random energy model: Limit of a family of disordered models. Phys. Rev. Lett.45, 79–82 (1980)

    Google Scholar 

  8. Derrida, B.: Directed polymers in a random medium. PhysicaA163, 71–84 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  9. Derrida, B.: The zeroes of the partition function of the random energy model. PhysicaA177, 31–37 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  10. Derrida, B., Spohn, H.: Polymers on disordered trees, spin glasses and travelling waves. J. Stat. Phys.51, 817–840 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Evans, M.R., Derrida, B.: Improved bounds for the transition temperature of directed polymers in a finite dimensional random medium. J. Stat. Phys.69, 427–437 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  12. Goldschmidt, Y.Y., Blum, T.: Directed walks with complex random weights: Phase diagram and replica symmetry breaking. J. Phys. I (France)2, 1607–1619 (1992)

    Google Scholar 

  13. Halpin-Healy, T.: Diverse manifolds in random media. Phys. Rev. Lett.62, 442–445 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  14. Huse, D.A., Henley, C.L.: Pinning and roughening of domain walls in Ising systems due to random impurities. Phys. Rev. Lett.54, 2708–2711 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  15. Huse, D.A., Henley, C.L., Fisher, D.S.: Response to a comment. Phys. Rev. Lett.55, 2924–2924 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Imbrie, J.Z., Spencer, T.J.: Diffusion of directed polymers in a random environment. J. Stat. Phys.52, 609–626 (1988)

    Google Scholar 

  17. Kardar, M.: Domain walls subject to quenched impurities. J. Appl. Phys.61, 3601–3604 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kardar, M., Parisi, G., Zhang, Y.-C.: Dynamic scaling of growing interfaces. Phys. Rev. Lett.56, 889–892 (1986)

    Google Scholar 

  19. Kardar, M., Zhang, Y.-C.: Scaling of directed polymers in a random medium. Phys. Rev. Lett.56, 2087–2090 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  20. Krug, J., Spohn, H.: Kinetic Roughening of Growing Surfaces. In: Godrèche, C. (ed.), Solids far from Equilibrium. Cambridge, UK: Cambridge University Press 1991

    Google Scholar 

  21. Medina, E., Kardar, M., Shapir, Y., Wang, X.R.: Interference of directed paths in disordered systems. Phys. Rev. Lett.62, 941–944 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  22. Mezard, M., Parisi, G.: Replica field theory for random manifolds. J. Physique11, 809–836 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  23. Moukarzel, C., Parga, N.: Numerical complex zeros of the random energy model. PhysicaA177, 24–30 (1991)

    Google Scholar 

  24. Nguyen, V.L., Spivak, B.Z., Shklovskiî, B.I.: Tunnel hopping in disordered systems. JETP Sov. Phys.62, 1021–1029 (1985)

    Google Scholar 

  25. Parisi, G.: On the replica approach to random directed polymers in two dimension. J. Physique51, 1595–1606 (1990)

    Google Scholar 

  26. Shapir, Y., Wang, X.R.: Absence ofh/e periodicity of the Aharonov-Bohm oscillations in square metallic lattices. Europhys. Lett.4, 1165–1170 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  27. Zhang, Y.C.: Ground state instability of a random system. Phys. Rev. Lett.59, 2125–2128 (1987)

    Google Scholar 

  28. Zhang, Y.C.: Directed polymers with complex amplitudes. Phys. Rev. Lett.62, 979–979 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Zhang, Y.C.: Directed polymers with complex amplitudes. Europhys. Lett.9, 113–118 (1989)

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Additional information

Communicated by T. Spencer

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Derrida, B., Evans, M.R. & Speer, E.R. Mean field theory of directed polymers with random complex weights. Commun.Math. Phys. 156, 221–244 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098482

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02098482

Keywords

Navigation