Critical behaviour of random compressible magnets

Abstract

The critical properties of a compressible random magnet are studied using renormalization group methods. Then-component orderparameter is coupled to quenched disorder and to the elastic fluctuations of the anisotropic solid. It is shown, that the critical behaviour of a compressible random magnet is in general the same as that of a random magnet on a rigid lattice. However, if the specific heat exponent of the ideal magnet is positive and the disorder is sufficiently weak, a macroscopic instability may prevent the system in reaching the critical point. The resulting first-order transition may be preceded by pseudocritical behaviour characteristic to pure compressible magnets. The effect of random magnetic fields on the critical properties of compressible magnets is also discussed.