Transfer matrix analysis of the two-dimensional ANNNI model

The two-dimensional axial next-nearest neighbour Ising (ANNNI) model is studied for the first time by a transfer matrix method for semi-infinite strips (N×;N13). One obtains the thermodynamic properties and, more important, the correlation functions, which display directly the various magnetic structures. In one part of the phase diagram where a disorder line is believed to follow closely the ferromagnetic transition line the critical exponents appear to deviate from the expected ones. ForN13 a variational procedure is proposed.