# Ising model for spins

1. Feb 14, 2014

### aaaa202

I think most of you are familiar with this model (sum runs over nearest neighbours):

H = -J ∑S_iz * S_jz

It demonstrates one of the succeses of meanfield theory as one can succesfully introduce:

S_iz = <S_iz> + S_iz - <S_iz> = <S_iz> + δS_iz

Such that:

S_iz*S_jz ≈ 2S_iz<S_jz> + const

Where I have neglected the second order term. Now my question:
In the presence of an external magnetic field the Hamiltonian gets introduced a second term which couples the spins to the external magnetic field:

H=H_ising + ∑ S_iz * B

In this case can I still use the mean-field approximation separately for the Ising term? My book certainly does it, but I am a bit confused because in my head the average <S_iz> is affected by the external magnetic field's effect on the spin, and in this case it is not for me obvious that just because the deviation from the average is small in the case of no external field, it should be too in the presence of one.

2. Feb 14, 2014

### Hypersphere

The average $\langle S_j^z \rangle$ is certainly changed by the external magnetic field - consider the extreme case with an antiferromagnetic $J$ and a strong field along some axis. This will change the mean field from zero in the case of no field to its maximal value in the case of a strong field. There are different mean fields for different Hamiltonians, if you will.