Spin waves, vortices, fermions, and duality in the Ising and Baxter models

Field-theoretic methods are applied to a number of two-dimensional lattice models with Abelian symmetry groups. It is shown, using a vortex + spin-wave decomposition, that the Z_p^- Villain models are related to a class of continuum field theories with analogous duality properties. Fermion operators for these field theories are discussed. In the case of the Ising model, the vortices and spin-waves conspire to produce a free, massive Majorana field theory in the continuum limit. The continuum limit of the Baxter model is also studied, and the recent results of Kadanoff and Brown are rederived and extended.