Large deviations, a phase transition, and logarithmic Sobolev inequalities in the block spin Potts model

We introduce and analyze a generalization of the blocks spin Ising (Curie-Weiss) models that were discussed in a number of recent articles. In these block spin models each spin in one of s blocks can take one of a finite number of q≥3 values or colors, hence the name block spin Potts model. We prove a large deviation principle for the percentage of spins of a certain color in a certain block. These values are represented in an s×q matrix. We show that for uniform block sizes there is a phase transition. In some regime the only equilibrium is the uniform distribution of all colors in all blocks, while in other parameter regimes there is one predominant color, and this is the same color with the same frequency for all blocks. Finally, we establish log-Sobolev-type inequalities for the block spin Potts model.