A Monte Carlo and renormalization group study of the Ising model with nearest and next nearest neighbor interactions on the triangular lattice

The Ising model with nearest and next nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions on the triangular lattice displays, for Jnnn/Jnn = 0.1, three phase transitions in different universality classes as the magnetic field is increased. We have studied this model using Monte Carlo and renormalization group techniques. The transition from the paramagnetic to the 2 × 1 phase (universality class of the Heisenberg model with cubic anisotropy) is found to be first order; the transition from the paramagnetic phase to the [Formula: see text] phase (universality class of the three state Potts model) is continuous; and the transition from the paramagnetic to the 2 × 2 phase (universality class of the four state Potts model) is found to change from first order to continuous as the field is increased. We have mapped out the phase diagram and determined the critical exponents for the continuous transitions. A novel technique, using a Landau-like free energy functional determined from Monte Carlo calculations, to distinguish between first order and continuous transitions, is described.