The critical properties of Potts models with random bonds are considered in two dimensions. A position-space renormalization-group procedure, based on the Migdal-Kadanoff method, is developed. While all previous position-space calculations satisfied the Harris criterion and the resulting scaling relation only approximately, we found conditions under which these relations are exactly satisfied, and constructed our renormalization-group procedure accordingly. Numerical results for phase diagrams and thermodynamic functions for various random-bond Potts models are presented. In addition, some exact results obtained using a duality transformation, as well as an heuristic derivation of scaling properties that correspond to the percolation problem are given.

• Received 19 May 1980

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.23.3421