Numerical Study of Finite Size Scaling for First Order Phase Transitions

Abstract

I present results of simulations of the q=10 and q=20 2-d Potts models in the transition region. The asymptotic finite size behavior sets in only for extremely large lattices. We learn from this simulation that finite size scaling cannot be used to decide that a transition is first order.

Comments: Talk presented at the Workshop on Dynamics of First Order Transitions, HLRZ, Forschungszentrum Jülich,Germany, June 1-3, 1992, 7 pages, 2 PostScript Figures (typing mistakes in figure captions corrected)