Abstract
The direct correlation function of the one-dimensional lattice-gas (Ising) model with nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor interactions is calculated exactly. It is shown that, depending on the strengths and signs of the coupling constants, the direct correlation function can either have a finite range equal to that of the interactions, or decay exponentially in a monotonic or oscillatory fashion. At the critical point, which occurs at zero temperature, the direct correlation function is found in all cases to have exactly the range of the interactions, while its values become unbounded; this is in contrast to earlier nonrigorous results. The second moment of the direct correlation function is found to diverge at the critical point, in the neighborhood of which it becomes proportional to the correlation length of the density (spin) fluctuations, confirming a prediction of scaling theory in one dimension.