EQUAL WEIGHT VERSUS EQUAL HEIGHT - A NUMERICAL STUDY OF AN ASYMMETRIC 1ST-ORDER TRANSITION

For asymmetric first-order transitions, the thermodynamic fluctuation theory of Binder and coworkers leads to different finite-size scaling predictions depending on the precise version of the theory. In this Letter, we test the so-called "equal weight" prescription against the "equal height" prescription by means of a Monte Carlo simulation for an asymmetric version of the two-dimensional Ising model. We find overwheling evidence in favour of the equal weight prescription, showing at the same time that the shift of the susceptibility maximum with respect to the infinite volume transition point h(t) is proportional to L-2d, and not to L(-d).