Antiferromagnetic Potts Model on the Body-Centered Cubic Lattice

We have studied phase transitions and thermodynamic properties of the antiferromagnetic Potts model with number of spin states q = 3 on a body-centered cubic lattice by the Monte Carlo method. Investigations have been performed with account for exchange interactions J(1) and J(2) between the first and second nearest neighbors. The phase transition order has been analyzed using the histogram method. It is found that in this model with J(2) = 0, a second-order phase transition is observed. It is concluded that the inclusion of the interaction between the second nearest neighbors changes the type of the phase transition.