The log-Sobolev inequality for weakly coupled lattice fields (Q1124994)

The object of study is a continuous spin lattice model restricted to a finite lattice of arbitrary dimension. As well as there being ferromagnetic couplings between all pairs of spins, each spin is subject to a one body potential which is required to diverge to infinity faster than a quadratic and thus acts to restrict the magnitude of the spins, which otherwise are unrestricted. Subject to an assumption which essentially requires that the correlation between two spins decay exponentially with separation, it is proved that the Gibbs measure for the spin system satisfies the log-Sobolev inequality uniformly in the volume and the boundary conditions. This can be considered as a stronger result than that obtained by \textit{B. Zegarlinski} [Commun. Math. Phys. 175, No. 2, 401-432 (1996; Zbl 0844.46050)], although the assumption on the potential energy function \(U\) is stronger. It is remarked that subsequent to this work \textit{T. Bodineau} and \textit{B. Helffer} [J. Funct. Anal. 166, No. 1, 168-178 (1999)] have generalized the results of the present work by weakening the assumption of \(U\) to minimal requirements.