Three-state Potts model on the centered triangular lattice.

Abstract

We study phase transitions of the Potts model on the centered-triangular lattice with two types of couplings, namely, K between neighboring triangular sites, and J between the centered and the triangular sites. Results are obtained by means of a finite-size analysis based on numerical transfer-matrix calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Our investigation covers the whole (K,J) phase diagram, but we find that most of the interesting physics applies to the antiferromagnetic case K<0, where the model is geometrically frustrated. In particular, we find that there are, for all finite J, two transitions when K is varied. Their critical properties are explored. In the limits J→±∞ we find algebraic phases with infinite-order transitions to the ferromagnetic phase.