Magnetic properties of a tri-layer superlattice: Mean field study and Monte Carlo simulation

Abstract

Magnetic properties of a superlattice that consists of three square layers with Ising spins σ=1/2, s=1 and q=5/2, are investigated by means of standard Monte Carlo simulations and Mean Field Theory. The Hamiltonian model comprises contributions of intralayer and interlayer exchange interactions and the applied external magnetic field. Effects of the external magnetic field on magnetic behaviors have been thoroughly studied in the presence of thermal excitation. Ground state and thermal phase diagrams are numerically computated by both methods. Ground state phase diagrams of the system exhibit one ferromagnetic phase (1/2, 1, 5/2) and three ferrimagnetic ones: (−1/2, 1, 5/2), (−1/2, −1, 5/2) and (−1/2, 1, −5/2). A number of interesting phase diagrams and phenomena have been found, including hysteresis behaviors.