Exact solution of a classical short-range spin model with a phase transition in one dimension: the Potts model with invisible states

We present the exact solution of the 1D classical short-range Potts model with invisible states. Besides the $q$ states of the ordinary Potts model, this possesses $r$ additional states which contribute to the entropy, but not to the interaction energy. We determine the partition function, using the transfer-matrix method, in the general case of two ordering fields: $h_1$ acting on a visible state and $h_2$ on an invisible state. We analyse its zeros in the complex-temperature plane in the case that $h_1=0$. When ${\rm Im}\, h_2=0$ and $r\ge 0$, these zeros accumulate along a line that intersects the real temperature axis at the origin. This corresponds to the usual "phase transition" in a $1$D system. However, for ${\rm Im}\, h_2\neq 0$ or $r<0$, the line of zeros intersects the positive part of the real temperature axis, which signals the existence of a phase transition at non-zero temperature.
Comment: 6 pages, 3 figures