Multi-Step Ordering in Kagome and Square Artificial Spin Ice

TL;DR

This paper investigates various ordering and disordering phenomena in colloidal models of artificial kagome and square ice systems, revealing how external parameters influence state formation and transitions, with implications for nanomagnetic artificial ice.

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of ordering regimes in colloidal artificial spin ice, including the effects of biasing fields, temperature, and interactions, and explains formation mechanisms.

Findings

Multiple ordered and disordered states identified

Sequence of orderings with increasing temperature in monopole lattice

Insights into nanomagnetic artificial ice behavior under fields

Abstract

We show that in colloidal models of artificial kagome and modified square ice systems, a variety of ordering and disordering regimes occur as a function of biasing field, temperature, and colloid-colloid interaction strength, including ordered monopole crystals, biased ice rule states, thermally induced ice rule ground states, biased triple states, and disordered states. We describe the lattice geometries and biasing field protocols that create the different states and explain the formation of the states in terms of sublattice switching thresholds. For a system prepared in a monopole lattice state, we show that a sequence of different orderings occurs for increasing temperature. Our results also explain several features observed in nanomagnetic artificial ice systems under an applied field.