{
  "id": "cond-mat/9705311",
  "version": "v1",
  "published": "1997-05-30T15:11:50.000Z",
  "updated": "1997-05-30T15:11:50.000Z",
  "title": "Metastability in the two-dimensional Ising model with free boundary conditions",
  "authors": [
    "E. N. M. Cirillo",
    "J. L. Lebowitz"
  ],
  "comment": "24 pages, TeX file",
  "journal": "Journ. Stat. Phys. 90, 211-226, 1998.",
  "categories": [
    "cond-mat.stat-mech"
  ],
  "abstract": "We investigate metastability in the two dimensional Ising model in a square with free boundary conditions at low temperatures. Starting with all spins down in a small positive magnetic field, we show that the exit from this metastable phase occurs via the nucleation of a critical droplet in one of the four corners of the system. We compute the lifetime of the metastable phase analytically in the limit $T\\to 0$, $h\\to 0$ and via Monte Carlo simulations at fixed values of $T$ and $h$ and find good agreement. This system models the effects of boundary domains in magnetic storage systems exiting from a metastable phase when a small external field is applied.",
  "revisions": [
    {
      "version": "v1",
      "updated": "1997-05-30T15:11:50.000Z"
    }
  ],
  "analyses": {
    "keywords": [
      "free boundary conditions",
      "two-dimensional ising model",
      "metastability",
      "metastable phase",
      "small external field"
    ],
    "tags": [
      "journal article"
    ],
    "note": {
      "typesetting": "TeX",
      "pages": 24,
      "language": "en",
      "license": "arXiv",
      "status": "editable"
    }
  }
}