Non-equilibrium phase transition in the kinetic Ising model driven by a propagating magnetic field wave

The two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model in the presence of a propagating magnetic field wave (with a well-defined frequency and wavelength) was studied by Monte Carlo simulation. This study differs from similar earlier studies, because in earlier studies the oscillating magnetic field was considered to be uniform in space. The time averaged magnetization over a full cycle (the time period) of the propagating magnetic field acted as the dynamic order parameter. The dynamical phase transition was observed. The temperature variation of the dynamic order parameter, the mean square deviation of the dynamic order parameter, the dynamic specific heat and the derivative of the dynamic order parameter were studied. The mean square deviation of the dynamic order parameter and the dynamic specific heat show sharp maxima near the transition point. The derivative of the dynamic order parameter shows a sharp minimum near the transition point. The transition temperature is found to depend also on the speed of propagation of the magnetic field wave.