Effect of a dilute random field on a continuous-symmetry order parameter

Abstract

XY and Heisenberg spins, subjected to strong random fields acting at few points in space with concentration $c_r \ll 1$, are studied numerically on 3d lattices containing over four million sites. Glassy behavior with strong dependence on initial conditions is found. Beginning with a random initial orientation of spins, the system evolves into ferromagnetic domains inversely proportional to $c_r$ in size. The area of the hysteresis loop, $m(H)$, scales as $c_r^2$. These findings are explained by mapping the effect of strong dilute random field onto the effect of weak continuous random field. Our theory applies directly to ferromagnets with magnetic impurities, and is conceptually relevant to strongly pinned vortex lattices in superconductors and pinned charge density waves.