We study a 3-dimensional Ising model in which the tendency to order due to
short-range ferromagnetic interactions is frustrated by competing long-range
(Coulombic) interactions. Complete ferromagnetic ordering is impossible for any
nonzero value of the frustration parameter, but the system displays a variety
of phases characterized by periodically modulated structures. We have performed
extensive Monte-Carlo simulations which provide strong evidence that the
microphase separation transition between paramagnetic and modulated phases is a
fluctuation-induced first-order transition. Additional transitions to various
commensurate phases may also occur when further lowering the temperature.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted in Europhys. Letter