title: First-order transition in the XY model on a fully frustrated simple cubic lattice.
abstract: We study the nature of the phase transition in the fully frustrated simple cubic lattice with the XY spin model. This system is the Villain's model generalized in three dimensions. The ground state is very particular with a 12-fold degeneracy. Previous studies have shown unusual critical properties. With the powerful Wang-Landau flat-histogram Monte Carlo method, we carry out in this work intensive simulations with very large lattice sizes. We show that the phase transition is clearly of first order, putting an end to the uncertainty which has lasted for more than 20 years.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Physics, P.O. Box 429, Bo Ho, Hanoi 10000, Vietnam.
authors.forename: V Thanh
authors.initials: VT
authors.lastname: Ngo
authors.forename: D Tien
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Hoang
authors.forename: H T
authors.initials: HT
authors.lastname: Diep