Continuum Limits and Exact Finite-Size-Scaling Functions for One-Dimensional $O(N)$-Invariant Spin Models

We solve exactly the general one-dimensional $O(N)$-invariant spin model taking values in the sphere $S^{N-1}$, with nearest-neighbor interactions, in finite volume with periodic boundary conditions, by an expansion in hyperspherical harmonics. The possible continuum limits are discussed for a general one-parameter family of interactions, and an infinite number of universality classes is found. For these classes we compute the finite-size-scaling functions and the leading corrections to finite-size scaling. A special two-parameter family of interactions (which includes the mixed isovector/isotensor model) is also treated, and no additional universality classes appear. In the appendices we give new formulae for the Clebsch-Gordan coefficients and 6–$j$ symbols of the $O(N)$ group, and some new generalizations of the Poisson summation formula; these may be of independent interest.