Renormalization group analysis of the finite two-dimensional XY model with fourfold anisotropy: Application to the magnetic susceptibility of a ferromagnetic ultrathin film

The renormalization group equations describing a finite 2DXY (two-dimensional XY) system with fourfold anisotropy are solved in two steps, in order to study the magnetic transition to paramagnetism in an ultrathin film. First, the equations are linearized near the critical coupling K=J/kBT=2/π. This allows integration constants to be evaluated at the fixed point, and the tuning of the constants to represent a ferromagnetic ultrathin film. An exact solution of the linearized equations confirms that a finite-size Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) transition occurs in the presence of weak fourfold anisotropy, and that an Ising transition occurs for strong anisotropy. The behavior of a given system, and the crossover region between these two types of transitions, is determined by the system parameters through the product of an anisotropy parameter and the logarithm of the system size. The linearized RG equations are not quantitatively reliable across the extended temperature range of the finite-size transition, but they do define the parameter space where a second approach, where the fourfold anisotropy is treated as a perturbation, is valid. This perturbative treatment provides a quantitative determination of the renormalized exchange coupling, vortex density, and anisotropy throughout the transition. In particular, the coupling has a universal point of inflection where vortex-antivortex pairs unbind (as opposed to a “universal jump”), and goes to zero asymptotically in the paramagnetic state, as is expected for a finite system. These results are used to calculate the magnetic susceptibility as the system moves from one dominated by spin waves to one dominated by a free vortex gas. The presence of anisotropy makes it necessary to include both the susceptibility χ|| due to fluctuations of the magnitude of the magnetization, and χ⊥ due to angular fluctuations of the magnetization about a fourfold easy axis. Comparison to recent measurements of the magnetic susceptibility of ultrathin Fe/W(001) films suggests that a detailed quantitative analysis of the experimental results can provide information on vortex formation, disappearance of anisotropy, and dissipative processes in the finite-size KT transition of a real system.