Growth Kinetics in a Frustrated System: The Quenched Axial Next-Nearest-Neighbor Ising Model

Abstract

We have investigated the influence of the frustration parameter, κ, in Monte Carlo quench simulations of the axial next-nearest neighbor Ising (ANNNI) model. Quenches were performed from the high temperature paramagnetic state into both the ferromagnetic and modulated phase fields. For 0<κ<1, the quenches lead to the formation of a glassy phase. For large κ, domains of the modulated phase form and coarsen by the elimination of domain walls which meet at four-fold vertices. Quenches were also performed by discontinuous change of κ from the ferromagnetic regime to values in the modulated phase field at fixed temperature. For 1<κ<2, the modulated phase forms by nucleation and growth. At larger values of κ and long times in the nucleation and growth regime, the defected modulated structure coarsens by the motion and annihilation of domain walls and vertices.