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Experimental realization of antiferromagnetic Ising ground state on the triangular lattice
Phys. Rev. B 111, 224418 – Published 18 June, 2025
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/syny-gvt3
Abstract
The antiferromagnetic Ising model on a triangular lattice (AFIT) serves as a paradigmatic example of frustration, stemming from its geometry that precludes simultaneous satisfaction of all interactions. Here, we present an experimental platform to investigate AFIT by utilizing magnets arranged in vertical cavities of a triangular lattice, which stabilize at either the bottom or top of the cavity, mimicking the bistability of Ising spins. The strong magnet interactions and the unique growth process allow the frustrated behavior and its ground state configurations to be directly observed. An effective thermalization process is developed to reduce metastable energy barriers via external perturbations, facilitating evolution toward the ground state dominated by dipolar interactions. Theoretical simulations are performed to reveal the evolution of various magnetic states under effective thermal fluctuations, which are remarkably consistent with experimental results. Our system offers a unique approach to studying frustrated systems and paves the way for future research in complex geometries.
