MONTE-CARLO STUDY OF THE SURFACE SPECIAL TRANSITION IN THE XY-MODEL IN 3 DIMENSIONS

Using extensive Monte Carlo simulations we studied the behavior of L x L x D films containing classical spins interacting via nearest-neighbor XY interaction. Applying finite-size-scaling analysis and the cumulant method to determine the position of the surface transition boundary, we locate the multicritical point and extract appropriate critical exponents. We present evidence that the surface transition is of the Kosterlitz-Thouless type.