Phase Transition in Heisenberg Stacked Triangular Antiferromagnets: End of a Controversy

TL;DR

This study uses advanced Monte Carlo simulations to demonstrate that the phase transition in Heisenberg stacked triangular antiferromagnets is first-order, resolving a 20-year controversy and supporting nonperturbative renormalization group findings.

Contribution

It applies the Wang-Landau flat-histogram Monte Carlo method to large lattices, providing definitive evidence of the transition's first-order nature in a long-debated system.

Findings

Confirms first-order phase transition in the system

Supports nonperturbative renormalization group results

Resolves a 20-year long controversy

Abstract

By using the Wang-Landau flat-histogram Monte Carlo (MC) method for very large lattice sizes never simulated before, we show that the phase transition in the frustrated Heisenberg stacked triangular antiferromagnet is of first-order, contrary to results of earlier MC simulations using old-fashioned methods. Our result lends support to the conclusion of a nonperturbative renormalization group performed on an effective Hamiltonian. It puts an end to a 20-year long controversial issue.