Spin nematic states in antiferromagnets containing ferromagnetic bonds

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that nonfrustrated antiferromagnets with ferromagnetic bonds can exhibit spin nematic phases under strong magnetic fields, expanding the understanding of nematic states beyond frustrated systems.

Contribution

It reveals that nonfrustrated antiferromagnets with ferromagnetic bonds can host spin nematic phases, a phenomenon previously mainly associated with frustrated magnets.

Findings

Nematic phases can occur in AFs with FM bonds under strong magnetic fields.

Examples include ladder systems with FM rungs and AF layers coupled ferromagnetically.

Spin nematic states are possible in various nonfrustrated magnetic systems.

Abstract

The majority of recent works devoted to spin nematic phases deal with either frustrated magnets or with those described by Hamiltonians with large non-Heisenberg terms. We show in the present study that nonfrustrated antiferromagnets (AFs) containing ferromagnetic (FM) bonds can show nematic phases in a strong magnetic field. Among the particular spin systems discussed are a ladder with FM rungs, two AF layers coupled ferromagnetically, a chain containing alternating AF and FM bonds, and an AF anisotropic spin-1 chain.