Asymptotically free models and discrete non-Abelian groups

We study the two-dimensional renormalization-group flow induced by perturbations that reduce the global symmetry of the O(3) σ-model to the discrete symmetries of Platonic solids. We estimate the value of the correlation length at which differences in the behaviour of the various models should be expected. For the icosahedron model with nearest-neighbor interactions, we find ξ≳200. We provide an explanation for the recent numerical results of Patrascioiu and Seiler and of Hasenfratz and Niedermayer.