Computer Simulation Study of a Disordered Two-Dimensional Nematogenic Lattice Model with Long-Range Interactions Isotropic in Spin Space

Abstract

We have considered a classical spin system, consisting of 3-component unit vectors, associated with a two-dimensional lattice {uk, k∈ Z2}, and interacting via translationally invariant pair potentials, isotropic in spin space, and of the long-range form [Formula: see text] Here ∊ is a positive constant setting energy and temperature scales (i.e. T*=k B T /∊), P2 denotes the second Legendre polynomial, and xj are dimensionless coordinates of the lattice sites. Available theorems entail the existence of an ordering transition at finite temperature when 0 < σ < 2, and its absence when σ ≥ 2. We have studied the border case σ=2, by means of computer simulation. Similarly to the nearest-neighbour counterpart of the present model, and to other long-range models, we found evidence suggesting a transition to a low-temperature phase with slow decay of correlations and infinite susceptibility, i.e. a Berezhinski[Formula: see text]–Kosterlitz–Thouless-like transition; the transition temperature was estimated to be Θ=1.112 ± 0.005.