Glassy phases in layered Ising magnets with random interlayer exchange

TL;DR

This paper investigates the thermodynamics of layered Ising magnets with random interlayer exchange, revealing multiple metastable states and a series of first-order transitions affecting magnetic properties.

Contribution

It provides a detailed analysis of the zero-average interlayer exchange case, highlighting the complex metastable landscape and transition behavior in layered Ising systems.

Findings

Existence of numerous metastable states near transition points

Infinite series of first-order transitions with layer magnetization jumps

Complex evolution of magnetic properties with increasing randomness

Abstract

Thermodynamics of layered Ising magnet with the infinite-range ferromagnetic intralayer interaction and random exchange between nearest layers is considered. The case of zero average interlayer exchange is studied in detail. The inequilibrium thermodynamic potential is obtained near transition point and existence of numerous metastable states is shown. The thermodynamic properties of crystal in the simple periodic states are described. It is established that the evolution of the equilibrium magnetic state with growth of random exchange proceed over infinite series of first order transitions at which the number of magnetized layers and distance between them jump as well as homogeneous magnetization and susceptibility.