Efficient algorithm for random-bond ising models in 2D

We present an efficient algorithm for calculating the properties of Ising models in two dimensions, directly in the spin basis, without the need for mapping to fermion or dimer models. The algorithm computes the partition function and correlation functions at a single temperature on any planar network of N Ising spins in O(N;{3/2}) time or less. The method can handle continuous or discrete bond disorder and is especially efficient in the case of bond or site dilution, where it executes in O(NlnN) time near the percolation threshold. We demonstrate its feasibility on the ferromagnetic Ising model and the +/-J random-bond Ising model and discuss the regime of applicability in cases of full frustration such as the Ising antiferromagnet on a triangular lattice.     

Structural, orbital, and magnetic order in vanadium spinels

Vanadium spinels (ZnV2O4, MgV2O4, and CdV2O4) exhibit a sequence of structural and magnetic phase transitions, reflecting the interplay of lattice, orbital, and spin degrees of freedom. We offer a theoretical model taking into account the relativistic spin-orbit interaction, collective Jahn-Teller effect, and spin frustration. Below the structural transition, vanadium ions exhibit ferro-orbital order and the magnet is best viewed as two sets of antiferromagnetic chains with a single-ion Ising anisotropy. Magnetic order, parametrized by two Ising variables, appears at a tetracritical point.     

Phase Transitions of a Dilute O(n) Model

We investigate tricritical behavior of the O(n) model in two dimensions by means of transfer-matrix and finite-size scaling methods. For this purpose we consider an O(n) symmetric spin model on the honeycomb lattice with vacancies; the tricritical behavior is associated with the percolation threshold of the vacancies. The vacancies are represented by face variables on the elementary hexagons of the lattice. We apply a mapping of the spin degrees of freedom model on a non-intersecting-loop model, in which the number n of spin components assumes the role of a continuously variable parameter. This loop model serves as a suitable basis for the construction of the transfer matrix. Our results reveal the existence of a tricritical line, parametrized by n, which connects the known universality classes of the tricritical Ising model and the theta point describing the collapse of a polymer. On the other side of the Ising point, the tricritical line extends to the n=2 point describing a tricritical O(2) model.     

Microcanonical relation between continuous and discrete spin models

A relation between a class of stationary points of the energy landscape of continuous spin models on a lattice and the configurations of an Ising model defined on the same lattice suggests an approximate expression for the microcanonical density of states. Based on this approximation we conjecture that if a O(n) model with ferromagnetic interactions on a lattice has a phase transition, its critical energy density is equal to that of the n=1 case, i.e., an Ising system with the same interactions. The conjecture holds true in the case of long-range interactions. For nearest-neighbor interactions, numerical results are consistent with the conjecture for n=2 and n=3 in three dimensions. For n=2 in two dimensions (XY model) the conjecture yields a prediction for the critical energy of the Bere?inskij-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition, which would be equal to that of the two-dimensional Ising model. We discuss available numerical data in this respect.     

Dipolar interactions and origin of spin ice in ising pyrochlore magnets

Recent experiments suggest that the Ising pyrochlore magnets Ho2Ti2O7 and Dy2Ti2O7 display qualitative properties of the nearest-neighbor "spin ice" model. We discuss the dipolar energy scale present in both these materials and discuss how spin-ice behavior can occur despite the presence of long-range dipolar interactions. We present results of numerical simulations and a mean field analysis of Ising pyrochlore systems. Based on our quantitative theory, we suggest that the spin-ice behavior in these systems is due to long-range dipolar interactions, and that the nearest-neighbor exchange in Dy2Ti2O7 is antiferromagnetic.     

Nature of ergodicity breaking in ising spin glasses as revealed by correlation function spectral properties

In this Letter we address the nature of broken ergodicity in the low temperature phase of Ising spin glasses by examining spectral properties of spin correlation functions C(ij) identical with. We argue that more than one extensive [i.e., O(N)] eigenvalue in this matrix signals replica symmetry breaking. Monte Carlo simulations of the infinite-range Ising spin-glass model, above and below the Almeida-Thouless line, support this conclusion. Exchange Monte Carlo simulations for the short-range model in four dimensions find a single extensive eigenvalue and a large subdominant eigenvalue consistent with droplet model expectations.     

Interpolating between Ising, XY-, and non-linear σ-models

The β-functions of O(N)-symmetric non-linear σ-models on the lattice were recently discovered to be non-monotonic for N 3. We explain the non-monotonic behaviour as a non-perturbative lattice effect by relating it to the Kosterlitz-Thouless transition of the XY-model. We also relate the latter transition to the phase transition of the Ising model. These relationships are established by interpolating between the O(N)- and the O(N − 1)-symmetric non-linear σ-models by suppression of the Nth component of the N-vector field with a mass term. A critical line in the coupling-mass plane connects the critical point of the Ising model (N = 1) with the critical point of the XY-model (N = 2). This line extends towards the region of non-monotonic behaviour of the β-function of the O(3)-symmetric model. The nature of the transition lines is also investigated.     

Order by disorder and gaugelike degeneracy in a quantum pyrochlore antiferromagnet

The (three-dimensional) pyrochlore lattice antiferromagnet with Heisenberg spins of large spin length S is a highly frustrated model with a macroscopic degeneracy of classical ground states. The zero-point energy of (harmonic-order) spin-wave fluctuations distinguishes a subset of these states. I derive an approximate but illuminating effective Hamiltonian, acting within the subspace of Ising spin configurations representing the collinear ground states. It consists of products of Ising spins around loops, i.e., has the form of a Z2 lattice gauge theory. The remaining ground-state entropy is still infinite but not extensive, being O(L) for system size O(L3). All these ground states have unit cells bigger than those considered previously.     

Dimers and the Ising model

We present a innovative relationship between ground states of the Ising model and dimer coverings which sheds new light on the Ising models with highly degenerate ground states and enables one to construct such models. Thanks to this relationship we also find the generating function for dimers as the appropriate limit of the free energy per spin for the Ising model.     

Accurate results for the near critical properties of the Ising and non-linear σ-models by the introduction of a potential shift

A potential shift, suited for triangular lattices, is introduced to derive approximate real space renormalization group recursion formulas which are different from those obtained by Migdal. They reproduce with good accuracy the critical temperature and the critical exponent v for the Ising model and the first term in the weak-coupling perturbative expansion of the β function in the O(N) invariant non-linear σ model. In the latter case a new strategy to perform integrations is developed.     

Theory for phase transitions in insulating V2O3.

We show that the recently proposed S = 2 bond model with orbital degrees of freedom for insulating V2O3 not only explains the anomalous magnetic ordering but also other mysteries of the magnetic phase transition. The model contains an additional orbital degree of freedom that exhibits a zero temperature quantum phase transition in the Ising universality class.     

Rectangular lattice gas model with competing interactions and the two-dimensional ANNNI model in a field

A lattice gas model with short range competing interactions for adsorption on (110) surfaces of fcc crystals, in particular for O/Pd(110), as well as its Ising analog, the two-dimensional ANNNI model with antiferromagnetic axial nearest and next-nearest neighbour interactions in a field, are studied using the free fermion approximation and Monte Carlo techniques. The phase diagrams display different commensurate phases and incommensurate regions. Static and dynamic aspects of topological defects (walls and dislocations) characterising the incommensurate structures are investigated.     

Rigorous solution of the spin-1 quantum Ising model with single-ion anisotropy

We solve the spin-1 quantum Ising model with single-ion anisotropy by mapping it onto a series of segmented spin-1/2 transverse Ising chains, separated by the S(z)=0 states called holes. A recursion formula is derived for the partition function to simplify the summation of hole configurations. This allows the thermodynamic quantities of this model to be rigorously determined in the thermodynamic limit. The low temperature behavior is governed by the interplay between the hole excitations and the fermionic excitations within each spin-1/2 Ising segment. The quantum critical fluctuations around the Ising critical point of the transverse Ising model are strongly suppressed by the hole excitations.     

Role of structural fluctuation in a surface reaction studied by scanning tunneling microscopy: the CO+O-->CO2 clean-off reaction on Ag(110)-(2x1)-O

The kinetics of the clean-off reaction of O adatoms by CO on Ag(110)-(2x1)-O is investigated by scanning tunneling microscopy. The reaction is accelerated in the lower O coverage range where AgO chains with (nx1) (n> or =4) configurations show significant structural fluctuation. Simulations based on the Ising model are used to provide a quantitative understanding of the acceleration, which originates from the dynamical formation of active O adatoms by fluctuation of AgO chains.     

Exact solution of the spin-1/2 Ising model on the Shastry–Sutherland (orthogonal-dimer) lattice

A star-triangle mapping transformation is used to establish an exact correspondence between the spin-1/2 Ising model on the Shastry–Sutherland (orthogonal-dimer) lattice and respectively, the spin-1/2 Ising model on a bathroom tile (4–8) lattice. Exact results for the critical temperature and spontaneous magnetization are obtained and compared with corresponding results on the regular Ising lattices.     

Phenomenological renormalization group approach to the anisotropic two-layer Ising model

The anisotropic two-layer Ising model is studied by the phenomenological renormalization group method. It is found that the anisotropic two-layer Ising model with symmetric couplings belongs to the same universality class as the two dimensional Ising model.Received: 2 March 2003, Published online: 11 August 2003PACS: 05.50.+q Lattice theory and statistics (Ising, Potts, etc.) - 02.70.-c Computational techniques     

GPU accelerated Monte Carlo simulation of the 2D and 3D Ising model

The compute unified device architecture (CUDA) is a programming approach for performing scientific calculations on a graphics processing unit (GPU) as a data-parallel computing device. The programming interface allows to implement algorithms using extensions to standard C language. With continuously increased number of cores in combination with a high memory bandwidth, a recent GPU offers incredible resources for general purpose computing. First, we apply this new technology to Monte Carlo simulations of the two dimensional ferromagnetic square lattice Ising model. By implementing a variant of the checkerboard algorithm, results are obtained up to 60 times faster on the GPU than on a current CPU core. An implementation of the three dimensional ferromagnetic cubic lattice Ising model on a GPU is able to generate results up to 35 times faster than on a current CPU core. As proof of concept we calculate the critical temperature of the 2D and 3D Ising model using finite size scaling techniques. Theoretical results for the 2D Ising model and previous simulation results for the 3D Ising model can be reproduced.     

The random field method for the Ising model

The random field method is used for investigation of the Ising model. The generalization of the variational principle and a new representation for the free energy of the Ising model are proposed.     

Exact results for a random frustrated Ising model on the Kagomé lattice

We perform a slight modification of the decoration-decimation transformation which allows us to map the homogeneous Ising model on the honeycomb lattice on an inhomogeneous Ising model on the Kagomé lattice. Then, we obtain exact results for a class of random bond Ising model on the Kagomé lattice with competing interactions and show that the different types of frustration make the critical point of the pure model disappear.     

Long-range order at low temperatures in dipolar spin ice

It has recently been suggested that long-range magnetic dipolar interactions are responsible for spin ice behavior in the Ising pyrochlore magnets Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7. We report here numerical results on the low temperature properties of the dipolar spin ice model, obtained via a new loop algorithm which greatly improves the dynamics at low temperature. We recover the previously reported missing entropy in this model, and find a first order transition to a long-range ordered phase with zero total magnetization at very low temperature. We discuss the relevance of these results to Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7.