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Abstract.The Binder cumulant at the phase transition of Ising models on square lattices with various ferromagnetic nearest and next-nearest neighbour couplings is determined using mainly Monte Carlo techniques. We discuss the possibility to relate the value of the critical cumulant in the isotropic, nearest neighbour and in the anisotropic cases to each other by means of a scale transformation in rectangular geometry, to pinpoint universal and nonuniversal features.

The effect of imperfections on surface critical properties is studied for Ising models with nearest-neighbour ferromagnetic couplings on simple cubic lattices. In particular, results of Monte Carlo simulations for flat, perfect surfaces are compared to those for flat surfaces with random, 'weak' or 'strong', interactions between neighbouring spins in the surface layer, and for surfaces with steps of monoatomic height. Surface critical exponents at the ordinary transition, in particular $\beta_1 = 0.80 \pm 0.01$, are found to be robust against these perturbations.Comment: 7 pages, 13 figures, submitted to European Physical Journal