title: Kosterlitz-Thouless and Potts transitions in a generalized XY model.
abstract: We present extensive numerical simulations of a generalized XY model with nematic-like terms recently proposed by Poderoso et al. [ Phys. Rev. Lett. 106 067202 (2011)]. Using finite size scaling and focusing on the q=3 case, we locate the transitions between the paramagnetic (P), the nematic-like (N), and the ferromagnetic (F) phases. The results are compared with the recently derived lower bounds for the P-N and P-F transitions. While the P-N transition is found to be very close to the lower bound, the P-F transition occurs significantly above the bound. Finally, the transition between the nematic-like and the ferromagnetic phases is found to belong to the three-states Potts universality class.
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15051, 91501-970 Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Gabriel A
authors.initials: GA
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15051, 91501-970 Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Yan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Levin
authors.affiliation: Instituto de Física, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Sul, CP 15051, 91501-970 Porto Alegre RS, Brazil.
authors.forename: Jeferson J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Arenzon
mesh_terms: D003198:Computer Simulation; D003460:Crystallization; D008956:Models, Chemical; D008958:Models, Molecular; D044367:Phase Transition