MONTE-CARLO SIMULATION OF PHASE-TRANSITIONS IN A 2-DIMENSIONAL RANDOM-BOND POTTS-MODEL

Using the ''multihit'' Swendsen-Wang cluster flipping method, we perfo rmed extensive Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the critical beh avior of the two-dimensional (2D) eight-state random-bond Potts model. We applied finite-size-scaling techniques to extract the critical exp onents for two different sets of bond strengths, from which we conclud ed that the transition is second order with critical exponents for bot h sets falling into same universality class, that of a 2D Ising model. A variation of the Lee-Kosterlitz method for determining the order of a phase transition was also applied. The double-peaked structure of t he specific heat, which was found in some of the bond configurations, was also studied by simulation on periodic arrangements of strong and weak bonds.