Rev.Adv.Mater.Sci.(RAMS)
No 1, Vol. 14, 2007, pages 1-10

CONTINUOUS- AND FIRST-ORDER PHASE TRANSITIONS IN ISING ANTIFERROMAGNETS
WITH NEXT-NEAREST-NEIGHBOR INTERACTIONS

A. Malakis, P. Kalozoumis and N. G. Fytas

Abstract

Both the square and triangular Ising antiferromagnetic systems with next-nearest neighbor interactions are studied by a new efficient entropic scheme. Using the energy distribution and order parameter's fourth order cumulant it is illustrated that the two models behave quite differently. For the square model we establish strong numerical evidence showing a continuous transition scaling, whereas for the triangular model a first-order transition is verified. Our results are compared with the existing predictions and controversies in the literature.

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