Coulomb physics in spin ice, from magnetic monopoles to magnetic currents

TL;DR

This paper discusses the Coulomb physics of magnetic monopoles in spin ice materials, highlighting experimental evidence from the Wien effect in Dy2Ti2O7 that supports the monopole model and explores magnetic currents.

Contribution

It provides experimental validation of magnetic monopoles in spin ice and introduces the concept of magnetolytes, advancing understanding of emergent magnetic phenomena.

Findings

Observation of the Wien effect in Dy2Ti2O7

Evidence supporting magnetic monopoles as elementary excitations

Introduction of the magnetolyte concept

Abstract

It was proposed that spin ice, a class of rare earth titanates, hosts elementary excitations akin to magnetic monopoles. Recently, Bramwell and co-workers [arXiv:arXiv:0907.0956] measured the Wien effect in Dy2Ti2O7, directly probing the nature of these monopoles and making dysprosium titanate the first example of a magnetolyte.