Abstract
Vertex models are an important class of statistical mechanical system that admit exact solutions and exotic physics. Applications include water ice, ferro- and antiferro-electrics, spin ice and artificial spin ice. Here we show that it is possible to engineer spin ice films with atomic-layer precision down to the monolayer limit. Specific heat measurements show that these films, which have a fundamentally different symmetry to bulk spin ice, realise systems close to the two-dimensional F-model, with exotic phase transitions on topologically-constrained configurational manifolds. Our results show how spin ice thin films can release the celebrated Pauling entropy of spin ice without an anomaly in the specific heat. They also significantly expand the class of vertex models available to experiment.
Highlights
Vertex models are an important class of statistical mechanical system that admit exact solutions and exotic physics
Vertex models were first introduced as statistical mechanical models of water ice and hydrogen bonded ferro- and antiferro-electrics[1,2], but they rapidly assumed a much broader importance as model many-body systems that admit exact analysis[3,4,5,6,7]
The defining property of a vertex model is a set of vertex weights, which in experiment is determined by symmetry and tuned by temperature, pressure or applied fields
Summary
Vertex models are an important class of statistical mechanical system that admit exact solutions and exotic physics. Given that we expect the 2D F-model to be the basic model of a spin ice thin film at low temperature, it is worth recalling its properties.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
