Glassy phases in layered Ising magnets with random interlayer exchange

Abstract

Thermodynamics of layered Ising magnet with the infinite-range ferromagnetic intralayer interaction and random exchange between nearest layers is considered. The case of zero average interlayer exchange is studied in detail. The inequilibrium thermodynamic potential is obtained near transition point and existence of numerous metastable states is shown. The thermodynamic properties of crystal in the simple periodic states are described. It is established that the evolution of the equilibrium magnetic state with growth of random exchange proceed over infinite series of first order transitions at which the number of magnetized layers and distance between them jump as well as homogeneous magnetization and susceptibility.