English

Quantum order by disorder in a semiclassical spin ice

Statistical Mechanics 2010-10-29 v3

Abstract

We study the S>1 nearest-neighbor Heisenberg model with a ferromagnetic interaction J and a large non-collinear <111> easy-axis anisotropy D on a pyrochlore lattice. For a finite D>>|J|, the low-energy physics is described by a < 111 > Ising model with second- and third-neighbor exchange interactions. The extensive degeneracy of the ground state manifold in the infinite anisotropic limit is lifted by the transverse quantum fluctuations, and a q=0 ordered state is selected via the quantum order by disorder machanism, through a first-order phase transition at low temperature.

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1005.4742,
  title  = {Quantum order by disorder in a semiclassical spin ice},
  author = {Yang-Zhi Chou and Ying-Jer Kao},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1005.4742},
  year   = {2010}
}

Comments

4 pages, 5 figures

R2 v1 2026-06-21T15:27:53.720Z