Weak Convergence of Processes Occurring in Statistical Mechanics

Let $X^{(n)}_j, j=1,2,\cdots,n, n=1,2,\cdots$ be a triangular array of random variables which arise naturally in a study of ferromagnetism in statistical mechanics. This paper presents weak convergence of random function $W_n(t)$, an appropriately normalized partial sum process based on $S^{(n)}_n = X^{(n)}_i+\cdot+X^{(n)}_n$. The limiting process W(t) is shown to be Gaussian when weak dependence exists. At the critical point where the change form weak to strong dependence takes place, W(t) turns out to be non-Gaussian. Our results are direct extensions of work by Ellis and Newmam (1978). An example is considered and the relation of these results to critical phenomena is briefly explained.