Magnetic phase transitions in spin-fluctuation theory (Q499427)

A first-order phase transition is a characteristic feature of the Gaussian approximation in spin-fluctuation theory. This paper proposes a method for renormalizing the optimal Gaussian approximation by taking the fourth-order terms of the free energy expansion in the fluctuating field into account. To treat the fourth-order terms, the authors introduce a method of partial averaging (decoupling) of the Gaussian fields based on the Wick theorem, which differs from the partial averaging method used in the mean-field theory and the decoupling methods in chains of equations for the Green's functions. When applied to the Ising model, the free energy has a simple analytic form and the optimal Gaussian approximation in the systems with localized spins leads to a discontinuous first-order phase transition. Renormalization of the magnetic susceptibility then displays the correct qualitative second-order phase transition behavior of the temperature dependence of the magnetization, which is experimentally observed in metals. The parameter substitution method is used to compute the temperature dependence at high temperatures. This method is universal and can be used to study fluctuation effects and phase transitions of different natures.