Weak Antiferromagnetic Order in Anisotropic Quantum Pyrochlores

TL;DR

This paper investigates the ground state magnetic properties of an anisotropic quantum pyrochlore system, revealing the emergence of weak antiferromagnetic order influenced by Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions, with possible chiral and coplanar magnetic states.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of how Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions induce weak antiferromagnetic order in anisotropic quantum pyrochlores, identifying possible magnetic states.

Findings

Identification of non coplanar chiral magnetic states.

Discovery of coplanar antiferromagnetic order.

Magnetic moments determined by Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions.

Abstract

We study the ground state properties of an anisotropic, quasi-2D version of the quantum (S=1/2) pyrochlore antiferromagnet. In the presence of Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions, in addition to the Heisenberg exchanges, it is shown that two types of ordered magnetic states are generally possible: non coplanar "chiral," and coplanar antiferromagnetic order. The magnetic moments in all cases are determined by the Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions and in this sense the antiferromagnetic order is "weak."