Destruction of bulk ordering by surface randomness.
We demonstrate that the arbitrarily weak quenched disorder on the surface of a system of continuous symmetry destroys long-range order in the bulk, and, instead, quasi-long-range order emerges. Correlation functions are calculated exactly for the two- and three-dimensional XY models with surface randomness via the functional renormalization group. Even at strong quenched disorder the three-dimensional XY model possesses topological order. We also determine roughness of a domain wall in the presence of surface disorder.
Feldman
D E
DE
Materials Science Division, Argonne National Laboratory, 9700 South Cass, Illinois 60439, USA.
Vinokur
V M
VM