$k_B/J=1$. Considering the energy per spin $e=\langle H \rangle /N$, in the thermodynamic limit the latent heat for $q>4$ is [@Ba1973]

$$\label{Ujump}
    e_d - e_o = 2 \left(1+\frac{1}{\sqrt{2}} \right)\, \tanh\frac{\Theta}{2}\,\prod_{n=1}^\infty (\tanh\, n\Theta)^2$$

where $\Theta=\arccos\, \sqrt{q}/2$ and

$$\begin{aligned}
\label{Ucpm}
    e_d= \lim_{N\to\infty} \frac{1}{N} \lim_{T\to T_c^+} \langle H \rangle,\\
    e_o= \lim_{N\to\infty} \frac{1}{N} \lim_{T\to T_c^-} \langle H \rangle.\end{aligned}$$

Also

$$\label{Uadd}
    e_d + e_o = -2(1+1/\sqrt{q})$$

from which the individual values of $e_d$ and $e_o$ can be obtained [@KiMiSh1954].

The order parameter is defined as $$\label{magnetization}
 m = \frac{q(N_{max}/N - 1)}{q-1}$$ where $N_{max} =max(N_1, N_2,\ldots,N_q)$, being $N_i$ the number of spins in state $i$. At the transition the jump in the order parameter (for $q>4$) is given by [@Ba1982]

$$\Delta m = 1- q^{-1} - 3q^{-2} - 9q{-3} - 27q^{-4} - \ldots
 \label{magne-exact}$$

Metastability
-------------

The problem of metastability in the infinite size $q$-state Potts model (for $q>4$) is an old standing problem in statistical mechanics  [@Bi1981; @VeBeHe2003; @FeCa2007; @IbLoPe2007; @PeIbLo2008; @LoFeGrCa2009]. It has also kept the attention of the Quantum Chromodynamics’ (QCD) community for many years [@Me1996; @KaSt2000; @VeBeHe2003; @BaBeDu2008; @BoEl2010], because it has some characteristics in common with the deconfining (temperature driven) phase transition in heavy quarks.

Metastability is a verified fact in 