Numerical equation of state and other scaling functions from an improved three-dimensional Ising model

We study an improved three-dimensional Ising model with external magnetic field near the critical point by Monte Carlo simulations. From our data we determine numerically the universal scaling functions of the magnetization, that is the equation of state, of the susceptibility and of the correlation length. In order to normalize the scaling functions we calculate the critical amplitudes of the three observables on the critical line, the phase boundary and the critical isochore. The amplitudes lead to the universal ratios C+/C- = 4.756(28), Rchi = 1.723(13), Q(c) = 0.326(3), and Q(2) = 1.201(10). We find excellent agreement of the data with the parametric representation of the asymptotic equation of state as found by field theory methods. The comparison of the susceptibility data to the corresponding scaling function shows a marginal difference in the symmetric phase, which can be explained by the slightly different value for Rchi used in the parametrization. The shape of the correlation-length-scaling function is similar to the one of the susceptibility, as expected from earlier parametrizations. The peak positions of the two scaling functions are coinciding within the error bars. (C) 2003 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.