Mean-field phase diagrams of AT2X2AT_2X_2 compounds

Magnetic-field -- temperature phase diagrams of the axial next-nearest-neighbor Ising model are calculated within the framework of a Landau-type expansion of the free energy derived from molecular-field theory. Good qualitative agreement is found with recently reported results on body-centered-tetragonal $UPd_2Si_2$. This work is expected to also be relevant for related compounds.Comment: J1K 2R1 8 pages (RevTex 3.0), 2 figures available upon request, Report# CRPS-94-0

Heisenberg antiferromagnets with uniaxial exchange and cubic anisotropies in a field

Classical Heisenberg antiferromagnets with uniaxial exchange anisotropy and a cubic anisotropy term in a field on simple cubic lattices are studied with the help of ground state considerations and extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Especially, we analyze the role of non-collinear structures of biconical type occurring in addition to the well-known antiferromagnetic and spin-flop structures. Pertinent phase diagrams are determined, and compared to previous findings.Comment: 14 pages, 8 figure

Mixed Ising ferrimagnets with next-nearest neighbour couplings on square lattices

We study Ising ferrimagnets on square lattices with antiferromagnetic exchange couplings between spins of values S=1/2 and S=1 on neighbouring sites, couplings between S=1 spins at next--nearest neighbour sites of the lattice, and a single--site anisotropy term for the S=1 spins. Using mainly ground state considerations and extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we investigate various aspects of the phase diagram, including compensation points, critical properties, and temperature dependent anomalies. In contrast to previous belief, the next--nearest neighbour couplings, when being of antiferromagnetic type, may lead to compensation points

Biconical structures in two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnets

Square lattice Heisenberg and XY antiferromagnets with uniaxial anisotropy in a field along the easy axis are studied. Based on ground state considerations and Monte Carlo simulations, the role of biconical structures in the transition region between the antiferromagnetic and spin--flop phases is analyzed. In particular, adding a single--ion anisotropy to the XXZ antiferromagnet, one observes, depending on the sign of that anisotropy, either an intervening biconical phase or a direct transition of first order separating the two phases. In case of the anisotropic XY model, the degeneracy of the ground state, at a critical field, in antiferromagnetic, spin--flop, and bidirectional structures seems to result, as in the case of the XXZ model, in a narrow disordered phase between the antiferromagnetic and spin--flop phases, dominated by bidirectional fluctuations.Comment: 4 pages, 5 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

Critical phenomena at perfect and non-perfect surfaces

The effect of imperfections on surface critical properties is studied for Ising models with nearest-neighbour ferromagnetic couplings on simple cubic lattices. In particular, results of Monte Carlo simulations for flat, perfect surfaces are compared to those for flat surfaces with random, 'weak' or 'strong', interactions between neighbouring spins in the surface layer, and for surfaces with steps of monoatomic height. Surface critical exponents at the ordinary transition, in particular $\beta_1 = 0.80 \pm 0.01$, are found to be robust against these perturbations.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures, submitted to European Physical Journal

Wetting and interfacial adsorption in the Blume-Capel model on the square lattice

We study the Blume-Capel model on the square lattice. To allow for wetting and interfacial adsorption, the spins on opposite boundaries are fixed in two different states, "+1" and "-1", with reduced couplings at one of the boundaries. Using mainly Monte Carlo techniques, of Metropolis and Wang-Landau type, phase diagrams showing bulk and wetting transitions are determined. The role of the non-boundary state, "0", adsorbed preferably at the interface between "-1" and "+1" rich regions, is elucidated.Comment: 7 pages, 8 figures, minor corrections to previous versio

The disordered flat phase of a crystal surface - critical and dynamic properties

We analyze a restricted SOS model on a square lattice with nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions, using Monte Carlo techniques. In particular, the critical exponents at the preroughening transition between the flat and disordered flat (DOF) phases are confirmed to be non-universal. Moreover, in the DOF phase, the equilibration of various profiles imprinted on the crystal surface is simulated, applying evaporation kinetics and surface diffusion. Similarities to and deviations from related findings in the flat and rough phases are discussed.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figures, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Classical and quantum two-dimensional anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnets

The classical and the quantum, spin $S=1/2, versions of the uniaxially anisotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a square lattice in a field parallel to the easy axis are studied using Monte Carlo techniques. For the classical version, attention is drawn to biconical structures and fluctuations at low temperatures in the transition region between the antiferromagnetic and spin-flop phases. For the quantum version, the previously proposed scenario of a first-order transition between the antiferromagnetic and spin-flop phases with a critical endpoint and a tricritical point is scrutinized.Comment: 5 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Phys. Rev.

The critical Binder cumulant in a two--dimensional anisotropic Ising model with competing interaction

The Binder cumulant at the phase transition of Ising models on square lattices with ferromagnetic couplings between nearest neighbors and with competing antiferromagnetic couplings between next--nearest neighbors, along only one diagonal, is determined using Monte Carlo techniques. In the phase diagram a disorder line occurs separating regions with monotonically decaying and with oscillatory spin--spin correlations. Findings on the variation of the critical cumulant with the ratio of the two interaction strengths are compared to related recent results based on renormalization group calculations.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

Ising antiferromagnet with mobile, pinned and quenched defects

Motivated by recent experiments on (Sr,Ca,La)_14 Cu_24 O_41, a two-dimensional Ising antiferromagnet with mobile, locally pinned and quenched defects is introduced and analysed using mainly Monte Carlo techniques. The interplay between the arrangement of the defects and the magnetic ordering as well as the effect of an external field are studied.Comment: 10 pages, 6 figures. Condensed Matter Physics (Festschrift in honour of R. Folk