Role of further-neighbor interactions in modulating the critical behavior of the Ising model with frustration

In this work, we investigate the phase transitions and critical behaviors of the frustrated J(1)-J(2)-J(3) Ising model on the square lattice using Monte Carlo simulations, and particular attention goes to the effect of the second-next-nearest-neighbor interaction J(3) on the phase transition from a disordered state to the single stripe antiferromagnetic state. A continuous Ashkin-Teller-like transition behavior in a certain range of J(3) is identified, while the four-state Potts-critical end point [J(3)/J(1)](C) is estimated based on the analytic method reported in earlier work [Jin, Sen, and Sandvik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 045702 (2012)]. It is suggested that the interaction J(3) can tune the transition temperature and in turn modulate the critical behaviors of the frustrated model. Furthermore, it is revealed that an antiferromagnetic J(3) can stabilize the staggered dimer state via a phase transition of strong first-order character.