Phase transition of two-dimensional generalized XY model

Abstract

We study the two-dimensional generalized XY model that depends on an integer $q$ by the Monte Carlo method. This model was recently proposed by Romano and Zagrebnov. We find a single Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition for all values of $q$, in contrast with the previous speculation that there may be two transitions, one a regular KT transition and another a first-order transition at a higher temperature. We show the universality of the KT transitions by comparing the universal finite-size scaling behaviors at different values of $q$ without assuming a specific universal form in terms of the KT transition temperature $T_{\rm KT}$.