The free energy of the square lattice Ising model with interactions alternating in horizontal and vertical directions

Abstract

The free energy of the Ising model on the square lattice with alternating interactions in both horizontal and vertical directions is exactly derived. This model is distinct from the checkerboard Ising model. The result includes Onsager's free energy as a special case, and also includes Lee-Yang's free energy with an imaginary field, and relates these two solutions via continuous parameters. It is also derived that each imaginary magnetic field $iπ/2$ applied to a lattice site corresponds to a single frustrated square in its dual lattice.