Spin ice thin films: Large-N theory and Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract

We explore the physics of highly frustrated magnets in confined geometries, focusing on the Coulomb phase of pyrochlore spin ices. As a specific example, we investigate thin films of nearest-neighbor spin ice, using a combination of analytic large-N techniques and Monte Carlo simulations. In the simplest film geometry, with surfaces perpendicular to the [001] crystallographic direction, we observe pinch points in the spin-spin correlations characteristic of a two-dimensional Coulomb phase. We then consider the consequences of crystal symmetry breaking on the surfaces of the film through the inclusion of orphan bonds. We find that when these bonds are ferromagnetic, the Coulomb phase is destroyed by the presence of fluctuating surface magnetic charges, leading to a classical Z_2 spin liquid. Building on this understanding, we discuss other film geometries with surfaces perpendicular to the [110] or the [111] direction. We generically predict the appearance of surface magnetic charges and discuss their implications for the physics of such films, including the possibility of an unusual Z_3 classical spin liquid. Finally, we comment on open questions and promising avenues for future research.

17 pages, 11 figures. Minor improvements, typos corrected

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Cited by in corpus (13)

• Emergent Electrochemistry in Spin Ice: Debye-Hückel Theory and Beyond
• Probing Flat Band Physics in Spin Ice Systems via Polarized Neutron Scattering
• Modification of Spin Ice Physics in Ho${}_2$Ti${}_2$O${}_7$ Thin Films
• Fragmented spin ice and multi-$k$ ordering in rare-earth antiperovskites
• The complex non-collinear magnetic orderings in Ba2YOsO6: A new approach to tuning spin-lattice interactions and controlling magnetic orderings in frustrated complex oxides
• The Classical Heisenberg Model on the Centred Pyrochlore Lattice
• [111]-strained spin ice: Localization of thermodynamically deconfined monopoles
• 2-Form U(1) Spin Liquids: Classical Model and Quantum Aspects
• Probing ice-rule-breaking transition in $\mathrm{D}{\mathrm{y}}_2\mathrm{T}{\mathrm{i}}_2{\mathrm{O}}_7$ thin film by proximitized transport and magnetic torque
• Ferromagnetic fragmented state in the pyrochlore Ho${}_2$Ru${}_2$O${}_7$
• Spinor ice correlation in flat-band electronic states on kagome and pyrochlore lattices with spin-orbit coupling
• Hearing the light: stray-field noise from the emergent photon in quantum spin ice
• Entropic magnetic interlayer coupling