Phase diagram of a loop on the square lattice

The phase diagram of the O(n) model, in particular the special case n = 0, is studied by means of transfer-matrix calculations on the loop representation of the O(n) model. The model is defined on the square lattice; the loops are allowed to collide at the lattice vertices, but not to intersect. The loop model contains three variable parameters that determine the loop density or temperature, the energy of a bend in a loop, and the interaction energy of colliding loop segments. A finite-size analysis of the transfer-matrix results yields the phase diagram in a special plane of the parameter space. These results confirm the existence of a multicritical point and an Ising-like critical line in the low-temperature O(n) phase.