Randomness-induced second-order transition in the two-dimensional eight-state Potts model: A Monte Carlo study

Abstract

We have studied the effect of quenched, bond randomness on the nature of the phase transition in the two-dimensional eight-state Potts model. Through extensive Monte Carlo simulations, we confirm that the phase transition changes from first order to second order. A finite-size-scaling analysis of several thermodynamic quantities strongly suggests that the critical exponents fall into the universality class of the two-dimensional Ising model.