Three-state Potts model on the maple leaf lattice

We use Monte Carlo methods to study the three-state Potts model on a two-dimensional lattice with fivefold coordination. The lattice consists of triangular and hexagonal units and has properties intermediate between the triangular and kagomé lattices. The critical behavior of both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic cases is considered. As expected, the critical behavior of the ferromagnetic model is independent of the lattice details and lies in the universality class of the three-state ferromagnetic Potts model. A critical end point is found at the coexistence between the ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic phases, and the transition to the antiferromagnetic state is always first order.