Ground state candidate and thermodynamics of Apamea spin ice
Phys. Rev. E 113, 024128 – Published 19 February, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/gw17-fhgk
Abstract
We consider the dipolar spin ice on a 2D Apamea lattice whose geometry is derived from the square spin ice. We propose ground-state candidate configurations and show that not all vertices are in energetically favorable states. There is no macroscopic degeneracy of the ground-state candidate. By using the numerical Metropolis method, we demonstrate the existence of three phases of magnetic order and explain their origins. A good agreement between the Metropolis and XMCD experiment is demonstrated, and the improved Apamea lattice geometry for the experimental observation of the dynamics in the ordered state is proposed.
Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)
- Artificial spin ice
- Dynamics of phase separation
- Ferromagnetism
- Martensitic phase transition
- Paramagnetism
- Second order phase transitions
- Structural order parameter
- Ising model
- Markovian processes
- Metropolis algorithm
- Numerical approximation & analysis
- Time series analysis
- X-ray magnetic circular dichroism
- XY model
