Disorder regimes and equivalence of disorder types in artificial spin ice

TL;DR

This paper uses numerical simulations to show that the effects of disorder in artificial spin ice depend mainly on disorder strength relative to interactions, not on disorder type, revealing weak and strong disorder regimes.

Contribution

It demonstrates that disorder effects are primarily governed by disorder strength, establishing a quantitative framework for weak and strong disorder regimes in artificial spin ice.

Findings

Disorder effects depend mainly on strength, not type.

Weak and strong disorder regimes are quantitatively defined.

Simulations reveal disorder strength as the key factor in response variability.

Abstract

The field-induced dynamics of artificial spin ice are determined in part by interactions between magnetic islands, and the switching characteristics of each island. Disorder in either of these affects the response to applied fields. Numerical simulations are used to show that disorder effects are determined primarily by the strength of disorder relative to inter-island interactions, rather than by the type of disorder. Weak and strong disorder regimes exist and can be defined in a quantitative way.