Skyrmion-skyrmion interaction induced by itinerant electrons in a ferromagnetic strip.

Magnetic skyrmions are promising spin textures for building next-generation magnetic memories and spintronic devices. Nevertheless, one of the major challenges in realizing skyrmion-based devices is the stabilization of ordered arrays of these spin textures in different geometries. Here we numerically study the skyrmion-skyrmion interaction potential that arises due to the dynamics of itinerant electrons coupled to the magnetic texture in a ferromagnetic background with racetrack geometry. We consider different topological textures (ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM)), namely: skyrmions, antiskyrmions and biskyrmions. We show that at low electron filling, for sufficiently short separation, the skyrmions strongly couple each other yielding a bound-state bound by electronic dynamics. However, when the filling is increased, the interaction potential energy presents local minima at specific values of the skyrmion-skyrmion distance. Each of these local minima corresponds to energetically stable positions of skyrmions which are 'protected' by well-defined energy barriers. By inspecting the local charge density, we find that in the case of AFM skyrmions, the local antiferromagnetic nature prevents electronic penetration into the core, allowing the AFM skyrmions to be seen as infinite potential barriers for electrons.

Multiple pseudo-plateaux states and antiferromagnetic pair selection in the XY model in the highly frustrated honeycomb lattice.

We present a study of the low temperature magnetic phases of the classicalXYmodel with third nearest neighbor interactions on the honeycomb lattice at the maximally frustrated point under an external magnetic field by extensive Monte Carlo simulations. We focus on the characterization of the emergent low temperature phases, which are a direct consequence of the unusually high numbers of spins per plaquette in the model. Specifically, we show that, since thermal fluctuations partially lift the ground-state degeneracy and select the most collinear states, the selected states are those with the highest number of 'antiferromagnetic pairs' (AFp) compatible with the external magnetic field. These AFp are formed in such a way that they maximize the degeneracy of the selected submanifold of ground states. Moreover, two collinear pseudoplateaux emerge atM= 1/3 andM= 2/3. To characterize the magnetization process, we employ Monte Carlo simulations and calculate relevant order parameters to construct the complete temperature vs magnetic field phase diagram.

On the deviation from a Curie-Weiss behavior of the ZnFe2O4 susceptibility: A combined ab-initio and Monte-Carlo approach.

We present a numerical study of the magnetic properties of ZnFe2O4 using Monte-Carlo simulations performed considering a Heisenberg model with antiferromagnetic couplings determined by Density Functional Theory. Our calculations predict that the magnetic susceptibility has a cusp-like peak centered at 13 K, and follows a Curie-Weiss behavior above this temperature with a high and negative Curie-Weiss temperature ( Θ C W = - 170 K). These results agree with the experimental data once extrinsic contributions that give rise to the deviation from a Curie-Weiss law are discounted. Additionally, we discuss the spin configuration of ZnFe2O4 below its ordering temperature, where the system presents a high degeneracy.

Phase transitions, order by disorder, and finite entropy in the Ising antiferromagnetic bilayer honeycomb lattice.

We present an analytical and numerical study of the Ising model on a bilayer honeycomb lattice including interlayer frustration and coupling with an external magnetic field. First, we discuss the exact T=0 phase diagram, where we find finite entropy phases for different magnetizations. Then, we study the magnetic properties of the system at finite temperature using complementary analytical techniques (Bethe lattice) and two types of Monte Carlo algorithms (Metropolis and Wang-Landau). We characterize the phase transitions and discuss the phase diagrams. The system presents a rich phenomenology: There are first- and second-order transitions, low-temperature phases with extensive degeneracy, and order-by-disorder state selection.

Phase ordering dynamics of reconstituting particles.

We consider the large-time dynamics of one-dimensional processes involving adsorption and desorption of extended hard-core particles (dimers, trimers, ..., k-mers), while interacting through their constituent monomers. Desorption can occur whether or not these latter adsorbed together, which leads to reconstitution of k-mers and the appearance of sectors of motion with nonlocal conservation laws for k≥3. Dynamic exponents of the sector including the empty chain are evaluated by finite-size scaling analyses of the relaxation times embodied in the spectral gaps of evolution operators. For attractive interactions it is found that in the low-temperature limit such time scales converge to those of the Glauber dynamics, thus suggesting a diffusive universality class for k≥2. This is also tested by simulated quenches down to T=0, where a common scaling function emerges. By contrast, under repulsive interactions the low-temperature dynamics is characterized by metastable states which decay subdiffusively to a highly degenerate and partially jammed phase.

Intermediate magnetization state and competing orders in Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7.

Among the frustrated magnetic materials, spin-ice stands out as a particularly interesting system. Residual entropy, freezing and glassiness, Kasteleyn transitions and fractionalization of excitations in three dimensions all stem from a simple classical Hamiltonian. But is the usual spin-ice Hamiltonian a correct description of the experimental systems? Here we address this issue by measuring magnetic susceptibility in the two most studied spin-ice compounds, Dy2Ti2O7 and Ho2Ti2O7, using a vector magnet. Using these results, and guided by a theoretical analysis of possible distortions to the pyrochlore lattice, we construct an effective Hamiltonian and explore it using Monte Carlo simulations. We show how this Hamiltonian reproduces the experimental results, including the formation of a phase of intermediate polarization, and gives important information about the possible ground state of real spin-ice systems. Our work suggests an unusual situation in which distortions might contribute to the preservation rather than relief of the effects of frustration.

Metastable and scaling regimes of one-dimensional Kawasaki dynamics.

We investigate the large-time scaling regimes arising from a variety of metastable structures in a chain of Ising spins with both first- and second-neighbor couplings while subject to Kawasaki dynamics. Depending on the ratio and sign of these former, different dynamic exponents are suggested by finite-size scaling analyses of relaxation times. At low but nonzero temperatures these are calculated via exact diagonalizations of the evolution operator in finite chains under several activation barriers. In the absence of metastability the dynamics is always diffusive.