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Field-induced multi-Q⃗ states in a pyrochlore Heisenberg magnet

Cecilie Glittum1,2,3 and Olav F. Syljuåsen4

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Phys. Rev. B 111, 214444 – Published 30 June, 2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/5rsg-2klm

Abstract

We construct exact ground states of the J1−J3b classical Heisenberg model on the pyrochlore lattice in the presence of a magnetic field. They are noncoplanar multi-Q⃗ spin configurations with a large magnetic unit cell that generalize the previously found coplanar sublattice pairing states. Using linear spin-wave theory, we show that entropy favors these multi-Q⃗ states at low temperatures in high magnetic fields. This is confirmed by Monte Carlo simulations, and a phase diagram is constructed. We also calculate the zero-temperature dynamical structure factor. Besides the usual Goldstone modes associated with the ordering Q⃗s, we find high intensity gapless modes at momenta where there are no Bragg peaks.

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Phys. Rev. B 111, 214444– Published 30 June, 2025
  • Received 7 March 2025
  • Accepted 11 June 2025
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Published by the American Physical Society under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International license. Further distribution of this work must maintain attribution to the author(s) and the published article's title, journal citation, and DOI.

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