Finite-size effects of dimensional crossover in the quasi-two-dimensional three-state Potts model

A nearest neighbour spin pair of the quasi-two-dimensional three-state Potts model interacts with strength J(>0) in the xy-plane and with λJ (0 λ 1) on the z-axis. The phase transition is of second-order when λ=0 and is of first-order when λ>0. Dimensional crossover occurs with a change of the order of the phase transition. We study the finite-size effects of the phenomenon by using a Monte Carlo method with a multi-spin coding technique. The prediction of the finite-size scaling theory is consistent with the Monte Carlo results