Rotationally symmetric ordered phase in the three-state antiferromagnetic Potts model

Abstract

We investigate the three-state antiferromagnetic Potts model on a simple cubic lattice with a cluster flipping Monte Carlo simulation algorithm in the temperature region below the transition into disorder at T_{c1}. We find both the well established broken-sublattice-symmetry (BSS) phase at low temperature and a new, rotationally symmetric phase at higher temperature, but below T_{c1}. The properties of the second phase and the transition temperature to the BSS phase are in disagreement with recent cluster-variation and Monte Carlo simulation results, but in agreement with simulations by Kolesik and Suzuki.