Monte Carlo Simulations of the Spin-3/2 Ashkin-Teller Model in the Presence of Two Competing Dynamics

This paper studies, by means of Monte Carlo simulations, an open ferromagnetic spin-3/2 Ashkin-Teller model defined on a square lattice. This model can be viewed as the superposition of two Ising models which are coupled by a four-spin interaction strength K4while in each Ising model, the nearest-neighbor interaction constant is K2. The model is here submitted to two stochastic dynamics that consist of two processes; the first one is the Glauber dynamics which simulates the contact of the system with a heat bath at temperature T and the second one is the Kawasaki dynamics which simulates the continuous energy flux into the system from an external source. The Glauber single-spin flip process happens with the probability p while the Kawasaki spin-exchange process between neighboring sites occurs with the probability q = 1− p. The temperature-dependence of the system magnetizations for fixed coupling constants and lattice anisotropy has been thoroughly investigated. Several thermodynamic phases and phase transitions have been obtained as well as multicritical points. When the Kawasaki dynamics becomes dominant, self-organized antiferromagnetic phases are generated. Several phase diagrams have been devised to illustrate model thermodynamic properties.