The statistics of the ground-state and domain-wall energies for the two-dimensional random-bond Ising model on square lattices with independent, identically distributed bonds having probability
p of ${J}_{ij}=\ensuremath{-}1$ and $(1\ensuremath{-}p)$ of
Jij=+1 are studied. We are able to consider large samples of up to
3202 spins by using sophisticated matching algorithms. We study $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ systems, but we also consider $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}M$ samples, for different aspect ratios
R=L∕M. We find that the scaling behavior of the ground-state energy and its sample-to-sample fluctuations inside the spin-glass region $({p}_{c}\ensuremath{\leqslant}p\ensuremath{\leqslant}1\ensuremath{-}{p}_{c})$ are characterized by simple scaling functions. In particular, the fluctuations exhibit a cusplike singularity at
pc. Inside the spin-glass region, the average domain-wall energy converges to a finite nonzero value as the sample size becomes infinite, holding
R fixed. Here, large finite-size effects are visible, which can be explained for all
p by a single exponent $\ensuremath{\omega}\ensuremath{\approx}2∕3$, provided higher-order corrections to scaling are included. Finally, we confirm the validity of aspect-ratio scaling for $R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$: the distribution of the domain-wall energies converges to a Gaussian for $R\ensuremath{\rightarrow}0$, although the domain walls of neighboring subsystems of size $L\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}L$ are not independent.
Systems with quenched disorder possess complex energy landscapes that are challenging to explore under the conventional Monte Carlo method. In this work, we implement an efficient entropy sampling scheme for accurate computation of the entropy function in low-energy regions. The method is applied to the two-dimensional
±J random-bond Ising model, where frustration is controlled by the fraction
p of ferromagnetic bonds. We investigate the low-temperature paramagnetic--ferromagnetic phase boundary below the multicritical point at
TN=0.9530(4),
PN=0.89078(8), as well as the zero-temperature ferromagnetic--spin-glass transition. Finite-size scaling analysis reveals that the phase boundary for
T<TN exhibits reentrant behavior. By analyzing the evolution of the magnetization-resolved density of states
g(E,M) and ground-state spin configurations against increasing frustration, we provide strong evidence that the zero-temperature transition is quasi-first order. Finite-size scaling conducted on the spin-glass side supports the validity of
β=0, with a correlation length exponent
ν=1.50(8). Our results provide new insights into the nature of the ferromagnetic-to-spin-glass phase transition in an extensively degenerate ground state.
Abstract Systems with quenched disorder possess complex energy landscapes that are challenging to explore under conventional Monte Carlo methods. In this work, we implement an efficient entropy sampling scheme for accurate computation of the entropy function in low-energy regions. The method is applied to the two-dimensional ± J random-bond Ising model, where frustration is controlled by the fraction p of ferromagnetic bonds. We investigate the low-temperature paramagnetic–ferromagnetic phase boundary below the multicritical point at T N = 0.9530(4), P N = 0.89078(8), as well as the zero-temperature ferromagnetic–spin-glass transition. Finite-size scaling analysis reveals that the phase boundary for T < T N exhibits reentrant behavior. By analyzing the evolution of the magnetization-resolved density of states g ( E , M ) and ground-state spin configurations against increasing frustration, we provide strong evidence that the zero-temperature transition is a mixed-order. Finite-size scaling conducted on the spin-glass side supports the validity of β = 0, where β is the magnetization exponent, with a correlation length exponent ν = 1.50(8). Our results provide new insights into the nature of the ferromagnetic-to-spin-glass phase transition in an extensively degenerate ground state.