Nematic Bond Theory of Heisenberg Helimagnets

Abstract

We study classical two-dimensional frustrated Heisenberg models with generically incommensurate groundstates. A new theory for the spin-nematic "order by disorder" transition is developed based on the self-consistent determination of the effective exchange coupling bonds. In our approach, fluctuations of the constraint field imposing conservation of the local magnetic moment drive nematicity at low temperatures. The critical temperature is found to be highly sensitive to the peak helimagnetic wavevector, and vanishes continuously when approaching rotation symmetric Lifshitz points. Transitions between symmetry distinct nematic orders may occur by tuning the exchange parameters, leading to lines of bicritical points.

4 pages, 4 figures

References in corpus (3)

• Theory of Electron Nematic Order in LaOFeAs
• Ising and Spin orders in Iron-based Superconductors
• Low temperature broken symmetry phases of spiral antiferromagnets

Cited by in corpus (7)

• Arc-shaped structure factor in the $J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$ classical Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice
• Stacking-induced magnetic frustration and spiral spin liquid
• Sublattice Pairing in Pyrochlore Heisenberg Antiferromagnets
• Interplay between Magnetic and Vestigial Nematic Orders in the Layered $J_1$-$J_2$ Classical Heisenberg Model
• The Finite-Temperature Behavior of a Triangular Heisenberg Antiferromagnet
• Nematostriction in frustrated two-dimensional Heisenberg models
• Vestigial Nematic Order at Zero Temperature in Two-Dimensional Frustrated Quantum Antiferromagnets