First observations of entropy vs free energy for lattice based Ising model for spin coarsening in conserved and non-conserved binary mixtures: a phenomenological study of phase transitions in 2D thin films

Abstract

This paper presents the results of Monte Carlo (MC) simulation for paramagnetic, ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic transitions in 2D thin films. The spin coarsening which lowers energy brings order at the cost of lowering entropy in the presence of an external magnetic field, which in turn, may increase the free energy at relatively higher temperatures because of spin mixing. There is a competition between energy of the system and entropy in conserved and non-conserved binary mixtures in the presence of an external magnetic field. The simulation is done on a lattice of size 100 × 100 using Metropolis algorithm with periodic boundary conditions. All data are sampled for 20 K MC cycles after a regular interval of 100 MC cycles. The paramagnetic case with spin coupling coefficient and the ferromagnetic and anti-ferromagnetic cases with |ε(AB)| = 0.0J 0 , 0.25J 0 , 0.50J 0 , 0.75J 0 & 1.0J 0 (keeping |ε(AA)| = |ε(BB)| = 1.0J 0 ) (Here J 0 = 1.0 unit of energy) are studied at temperatures kT = 0.25J 0 , 0.50J 0 , 0.75J 0 , 1.0J 0 , 1.25J 0 , 1.5J 0 , 1.75J 0 , & 2.0J 0 in presence of varying external magnetic field strengths in order to observe the organizational behavior of spins and the interplay between the free energy and entropy. The induced magnetization and the magnetic susceptibilities are found to be in qualitative agreement with the theory. The paramagnetic to ferromagnetic transition has been observed and explored at high T values. The spin correlation function plotted helps to reveal the spin transport properties of the systems. The spontaneous ferromagnetic transition temperatures for ε(AB) = 1.0J 0 , 0.75J 0 & 0.50J 0 are observed as k B T = 0.44J 0 , 0.39J 0 & 0.33J 0 (i.e. nearly 96 % magnetizations are observed at these temperatures) respectively at B = 0.0J 0 /µ (i.e. absence of any external magnetic field). This is in quantitative agreement with theory. The spin correlation function diverges at these transition temperatures, which can be understood as the theoretical evidence supporting the observation of spontaneous magnetization. The ferromagnetic to paramagnetic transitions are not very sharp but the range of the spin-spin interaction can be said to decay gradually. Even at higher temperature as kT = 2.0J 0 , the opposite spin pair correlation function supports formation of tiny domains with spin transport from one domain to another, whereas for lower temperatures below kT = 1.0J 0 , the presence of majority +1/2 spins diminish the effect. Tiny domain walls have lower energy surrounded by opposite spins and seem to be energetically preferred. This quasi nature of spin-spin interaction with temperature is also supported by the corresponding ensemble entropy averages.

The Ising Model: Brief Introduction and Its Application

“…Lower values of J AB weaken the spin flip-flop mechanism; henceforth the system requires further cooling, so that the spin-spin correlation overcomes the fluctuations. Spontaneous magnetization occurs in the absence of external magnetic field [28]. The confirmation of spontaneous process is further confirmed in Figure 10.…”

“…The confirmation of spontaneous process is further confirmed in Figure 10. Figure 10 is plotted for spin correlation function vs. temperature of the system [28]. The critical temperature is marked by the presence of discontinuity in it.…”

“…We observe similar kind of behavior with antiferromagnetic films, though below critical point (also known as Neel temperature), the net average magnetization becomes zero, because opposite spins are energetically favored in this case. The schematic diagram is shown in Figure 11 [28]. Magnetization vs. external magnetic field curves are plotted in Figure 12(a)-(d) for different sets of parameters [28].…”

“…The schematic diagram is shown in Figure 11 [28]. Magnetization vs. external magnetic field curves are plotted in Figure 12(a)-(d) for different sets of parameters [28].…”

“…Spontaneous magnetization in two-dimensional thin film (this figure is reproduced with permission from Singh[28]). …”