Phase Transitions in a Frustrated Four-Vertex Potts Model on a Hexagonal Lattice in a Magnetic Field

Abstract

The effect of a magnetic field on the phase transitions of a two-dimensional frustrated Potts model with the number of spin states q = 4 on a hexagonal lattice was studied by the Monte Carlo method. The studies were carried out for a wide range of magnetic field strength. The magnetic structures of the ground state in this range have been obtained. The dependence of the magnetization on the magnetic field has been constructed. It has been found that an external magnetic field leads to a first-order phase transition. It is shown that a strong magnetic field removes the degeneracy of the ground state and suppresses the phase transition in the system