Physics – Condensed Matter – Strongly Correlated Electrons
Scientific paper
2011-05-20
Phys. Rev. Lett. 108, 067204 (2012)
Physics
Condensed Matter
Strongly Correlated Electrons
4.5 pages, 6 eps figures - accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett
Scientific paper
10.1103/PhysRevLett.108.067204
Ice states, in which frustrated interactions lead to a macroscopic ground-state degeneracy, occur in water ice, in problems of frustrated charge order on the pyrochlore lattice, and in the family of rare-earth magnets collectively known as spin ice. Of particular interest at the moment are "quantum spin ice" materials, where large quantum fluctuations may permit tunnelling between a macroscopic number of different classical ground states. Here we use zero-temperature quantum Monte Carlo simulations to show how such tunnelling can lift the degeneracy of a spin or charge ice, stabilising a unique "quantum ice" ground state --- a quantum liquid with excitations described by the Maxwell action of 3+1-dimensional quantum electrodynamics. We further identify a competing ordered "squiggle" state, and show how both squiggle and quantum ice states might be distinguished in neutron scattering experiments on a spin ice material.
Fulde Peter
Penc Karlo
Pollmann Frank
Shannon Nic
Sikora Olga
No associations
LandOfFree
Quantum Ice : a quantum Monte Carlo study does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this scientific paper.
If you have personal experience with Quantum Ice : a quantum Monte Carlo study, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Quantum Ice : a quantum Monte Carlo study will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFWR-SCP-O-712939