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Inner Phases of Colloidal Hexagonal Spin Ice

A. Libál, C. Nisoli, C. J. O. Reichhardt, and C. Reichhardt
Phys. Rev. Lett. 120, 027204 – Published 12 January 2018
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Abstract

Using numerical simulations that mimic recent experiments on hexagonal colloidal ice, we show that colloidal hexagonal artificial spin ice exhibits an inner phase within its ice state that has not been observed previously. Under increasing colloid-colloid repulsion, the initially paramagnetic system crosses into a disordered ice regime, then forms a topologically charge ordered state with disordered colloids, and finally reaches a threefold degenerate, ordered ferromagnetic state. This is reminiscent of, yet distinct from, the inner phases of the magnetic kagome spin ice analog. The difference in the inner phases of the two systems is explained by their difference in energetics and frustration.

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  • Received 14 September 2017

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.120.027204

© 2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

  1. Physical Systems
Polymers & Soft MatterStatistical Physics & ThermodynamicsInterdisciplinary PhysicsCondensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

A. Libál1,2, C. Nisoli1, C. J. O. Reichhardt1, and C. Reichhardt1

  • 1Theoretical Division and Center for Nonlinear Studies, Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, New Mexico 87545, USA
  • 2Mathematics and Computer Science Department, Babeş-Bolyai University, Cluj 400084, Romania

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Issue

Vol. 120, Iss. 2 — 12 January 2018

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