Title: String Phase in an Artificial Spin Ice

Abstract

Abstract One-dimensional strings of local excitations are a fascinating feature of the physical behavior of strongly correlated topological quantum matter. Here we study strings of local excitations in a classical system of interacting nanomagnets, the Santa Fe Ice geometry of artificial spin ice. We measured the moment configuration of the nanomagnets, both after annealing near the ferromagnetic Curie point and in a thermally dynamic state. While the Santa Fe Ice lattice structure is complex, we demonstrate that its disordered magnetic state is naturally described within a framework of emergent strings. We show experimentally that the string length follows a simple Boltzmann distribution with an energy scale that is associated with the system’s magnetic interactions and is consistent with theoretical predictions. The results demonstrate that string descriptions and associated topological characteristics are not unique to quantum models but can also provide a simplifying description of complex classical systems with non-trivial frustration.

Authors:

Zhang, Xiaoyu; Duzgun, Ayhan; Lao, Yuyang; Subzwari, Shayaan ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-4651-3541"

Bingham, Nicholas S.; Sklenar, Joseph; Saglam, Hilal; Ramberger, Justin; Batley, Joseph T.; Watts, Justin D. ;

• Search DOE PAGES for author "Watts, Justin D."
• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-7908-7265"

Bromley, Daniel ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0899-2484"

Chopdekar, Rajesh V. ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0001-6727-6501"

O’Brien, Liam ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-0136-8603"

Leighton, Chris ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-2492-0816"

Nisoli, Cristiano ;

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0003-0053-1023"

Schiffer, Peter

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• Search DOE PAGES for ORCID "0000-0002-6430-6549"

Publication Date:

Thu Nov 11 00:00:00 EST 2021

Research Org.:

Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES). Materials Sciences & Engineering Division; National Science Foundation (NSF); UK Royal Society

OSTI Identifier:

1829909

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1841924

Report Number(s):

LA-UR-20-24782
Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723; 6514; PII: 26734

Grant/Contract Number:  

SC0020162; 89233218CNA000001; SC0010778; DMR-1807124; DMR-2103711; RGS\R2\180208

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Nature Communications

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Nature Communications Journal Volume: 12 Journal Issue: 1; Journal ID: ISSN 2041-1723

Publisher:

Nature Publishing Group

Country of Publication:

United Kingdom

Language:

English

Subject:

36 MATERIALS SCIENCE; 71 CLASSICAL AND QUANTUM MECHANICS, GENERAL PHYSICS