Boundary Thase Transitions in the Two Dimensional Q > 4 State Potts Model

The surface properties of the two-dimensional $Q>4$ state Potts model in the vicinity of the first order bulk transition point have been studied by exact calculations and by density matrix renormalization group techniques. The complete analytical solution of the problem is presented in the $Q \to \infty$ limit, including the critical and tricritical exponents, magnetization profiles and scaling functions. According to the accurate numerical results the universality class of the surface transition is independent of the value of $Q>4$.