Stochastic domination for the Ising and fuzzy Potts models

Preprint, 2010

We discuss various aspects concerning stochastic domination for the Ising model and the fuzzy Potts model. We begin by considering the Ising model on the homogeneous tree of degree $d$, $\Td$. For given interaction parameters $J_1$, $J_2>0$ and external field $h_1\in\RR$, we compute the smallest external field $\tilde{h}$ such that the plus measure with parameters $J_2$ and $h$ dominates the plus measure with parameters $J_1$ and $h_1$ for all $h\geq\tilde{h}$. Moreover, we discuss continuity of $\tilde{h}$ with respect to the three parameters $J_1$, $J_2$, $h$ and also how the plus measures are stochastically ordered in the interaction parameter for a fixed external field. Next, we consider the fuzzy Potts model and prove that on $\Zd$ the fuzzy Potts measures dominate the same set of product measures while on $\Td$, for certain parameter values, the free and minus fuzzy Potts measures dominate different product measures. For the Ising model, Liggett and Steif proved that on $\Zd$ the plus measures dominate the same set of product measures while on $\T^2$ that statement fails completely except when there is a unique phase.