Two dimensional Ising model with long-range competing interactions

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent progress in understanding the equilibrium and non-equilibrium behaviors of the two-dimensional Ising model with competing short-range ferromagnetic and long-range antiferromagnetic interactions, relevant for ultrathin films.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive review of the thermodynamic phase diagram, metastable states, and low-temperature dynamics of this complex frustrated magnetic system.

Findings

Detailed phase diagram characterization

Identification of metastable states

Insights into low-temperature dynamics

Abstract

The two-dimensional Ising model with competing short range ferromagnetic interactions and long range antiferromagnetic interactions is perhaps the most simple one containing the minimal microscopic ingredients necessary for an appropriate description of the macroscopic properties of ultrathin films and quasi--two--dimensional magnetic materials. Despite such relative simplicity, the frustration introduced by the competition between interactions generates complex behaviors that have eluded, up to now, a complete understanding of its general properties. In this work we review recent advances in the understanding of both equilibrium and non-equilibrium properties of the model. This includes a detailed description of several known properties of the thermodynamical phase diagram, as well as the existence of several types of metastable states and their influence in the low temperature dynamics.