Monte Carlo tests of theoretical predictions for critical phenomena: still a problem? Original Research Article

Two Monte Carlo studies of critical behavior in ferromagnetic Ising models are described: the first one deals with the crossover from the Ising class to the mean field class, when the interaction range increases. The second study deals with the finite size behavior at dimensionalities above the marginal dimension where Landau theory applies. The numerical results are compared to pertinent theoretical predictions, and unsolved problems are briefly described.