A Transfer Matrix study of the staggered BCSOS model

Abstract

The phase diagram of the staggered six vertex, or body centered solid on solid model, is investigated by transfer matrix and finite size scaling techniques. The phase diagram contains a critical region, bounded by a Kosterlitz-Thouless line, and a second order line describing a deconstruction transition. In part of the phase diagram the deconstruction line and the Kosterlitz-Thouless line approach each other without merging, while the deconstruction changes its critical behaviour from Ising-like to a different universality class. Our model has the same type of symmetries as some other two-dimensional models, such as the fully frustrated XY model, and may be important for understanding their phase behaviour. The thermal behaviour for weak staggering is intricate. It may be relevant for the description of surfaces of ionic crystals of CsCl structure.