Topological Order in an Antiferromagnetic Tetratic Phase

Daniel Abutbul, Daniel Podolsky

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

We study lattice melting in two-dimensional systems of spinful particles that interact antiferromagnetically. We argue that, for strong spin interactions, single lattice dislocations are forbidden by magnetic frustration. This leads to a melting scenario in which a tetratic phase, containing free dislocation pairs and bound disclinations, separates the solid from the liquid. We demonstrate this phase numerically in a system of hard spheres confined between parallel plates, where spins are represented by the heights of the spheres. In the tetratic phase, the spins are shown to be as antiferromagnetically ordered as allowed by their spatial configuration.

Original languageEnglish
Article number255501
JournalPhysical Review Letters
Volume128
Issue number25
DOIs
StatePublished - 24 Jun 2022

All Science Journal Classification (ASJC) codes

  • General Physics and Astronomy

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