Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets

Motivated by the recent synthesis of a number of Mott insulating square-kagome materials, we explore the rich phenomenology of frustrated magnetism induced by this lattice geometry, also referred to as the squagome or shuriken lattice. On the classical level, square-kagome antiferromagnets are found...

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Main Authors: Martin Gembé, Heinz-Jürgen Schmidt, Ciarán Hickey, Johannes Richter, Yasir Iqbal, Simon Trebst
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2023-12-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043204
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author Martin Gembé
Heinz-Jürgen Schmidt
Ciarán Hickey
Johannes Richter
Yasir Iqbal
Simon Trebst
author_facet Martin Gembé
Heinz-Jürgen Schmidt
Ciarán Hickey
Johannes Richter
Yasir Iqbal
Simon Trebst
author_sort Martin Gembé
collection DOAJ
description Motivated by the recent synthesis of a number of Mott insulating square-kagome materials, we explore the rich phenomenology of frustrated magnetism induced by this lattice geometry, also referred to as the squagome or shuriken lattice. On the classical level, square-kagome antiferromagnets are found to exhibit extensive degeneracies, order-by-disorder, and noncoplanar ordering tendencies, which we discuss for an elementary, classical Heisenberg model with nearest-neighbor and cross-plaquette interactions. Having in mind that upon introducing quantum fluctuations noncoplanar order can melt into chiral quantum spin liquids, we provide detailed information on the multitude of noncoplanar orders, including some which break rotational symmetry (possibly leading to nematic quantum orders), as well as a number of (incommensurate) spin spiral phases. Using extensive numerical simulations, we also discuss the thermodynamic signatures of these phases, which often show multistep thermal ordering. Our comprehensive discussion of the classical square-kagome Heisenberg model, often drawing comparisons to the conventional kagome antiferromagnet, sets the stage for future explorations of quantum analogs of the various phases, either conceptually, such as in quantum spin-1/2 generalizations of our model, or experimentally, such as in the Cu-based candidate materials.
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spelling doaj.art-b72d4d3a6b5a4b2d8310dee68222e61c2024-04-12T17:36:35ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642023-12-015404320410.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043204Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnetsMartin GembéHeinz-Jürgen SchmidtCiarán HickeyJohannes RichterYasir IqbalSimon TrebstMotivated by the recent synthesis of a number of Mott insulating square-kagome materials, we explore the rich phenomenology of frustrated magnetism induced by this lattice geometry, also referred to as the squagome or shuriken lattice. On the classical level, square-kagome antiferromagnets are found to exhibit extensive degeneracies, order-by-disorder, and noncoplanar ordering tendencies, which we discuss for an elementary, classical Heisenberg model with nearest-neighbor and cross-plaquette interactions. Having in mind that upon introducing quantum fluctuations noncoplanar order can melt into chiral quantum spin liquids, we provide detailed information on the multitude of noncoplanar orders, including some which break rotational symmetry (possibly leading to nematic quantum orders), as well as a number of (incommensurate) spin spiral phases. Using extensive numerical simulations, we also discuss the thermodynamic signatures of these phases, which often show multistep thermal ordering. Our comprehensive discussion of the classical square-kagome Heisenberg model, often drawing comparisons to the conventional kagome antiferromagnet, sets the stage for future explorations of quantum analogs of the various phases, either conceptually, such as in quantum spin-1/2 generalizations of our model, or experimentally, such as in the Cu-based candidate materials.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043204
spellingShingle Martin Gembé
Heinz-Jürgen Schmidt
Ciarán Hickey
Johannes Richter
Yasir Iqbal
Simon Trebst
Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
Physical Review Research
title Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
title_full Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
title_fullStr Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
title_full_unstemmed Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
title_short Noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square-kagome antiferromagnets
title_sort noncoplanar magnetic order in classical square kagome antiferromagnets
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.5.043204
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