Langevin simulations of stripe forming systems with long-range isotropic competing interactions

Abstract

We address the critical properties of the isotropic-nematic phase transition in stripe forming systems. We focus on isotropic models in which a short range attractive interaction competes with a long range repulsive interaction decaying as a power-law, paying particular attention to the cases in which this interaction is of dipolar or Coulomb types. Using Langevin dynamics simulations we show that these models belong to different universality classes. The numerical algorithms developed for each case are presented and discussed in detail. The obtained results are in agreement with recent theoretical predictions [1], according to which the orientational transition belongs to the Kosterlitz-Thouless universality class for dipolar systems, while it is of the second-order type for Coulomb systems.