Generalized XY Models with Arbitrary Number of Phase Transitions

Abstract

We propose spin models that can display an arbitrary number of phase transitions. The models are based on the standard XY model, which is generalized by including higher-order nematic terms with exponentially increasing order and linearly increasing interaction strength. By employing Monte Carlo simulation we demonstrate that under certain conditions the number of phase transitions in such models is equal to the number of terms in the generalized Hamiltonian and, thus, it can be predetermined by construction. The proposed models produce the desirable number of phase transitions by solely varying the temperature. With decreasing temperature the system passes through a sequence of different phases with gradually decreasing symmetries. The corresponding phase transitions start with a presumably BKT transition that breaks the U(1) symmetry of the paramagnetic phase, and they proceed through a sequence of discrete Z2 symmetry-breaking transitions between different nematic phases down to the lowest-temperature ferromagnetic phase.