Half-Magnetization Plateau of a Dipolar Spin Ice in a [100] Field

TL;DR

This paper presents numerical evidence of a half-magnetization plateau in dipolar spin ice under a [100] magnetic field, indicating a transition to a quantum solid phase with potential experimental signatures.

Contribution

It identifies a novel half-polarized phase in dipolar spin ice and links it to a quantum solid phase in an effective 2D quantum boson model, highlighting a superfluid to quantum solid transition.

Findings

Observation of a half-magnetization plateau at low temperature.

Identification of a transition from Coulomb phase to a quantum solid.

Discussion of experimental signatures of the half-polarized state.

Abstract

We report here numerical results of the low-temperature behavior of a dipolar spin ice in a magnetic field along the [100] direction. Tuning the magnetic field, the system exhibit a half-magnetization plateau at low temperature. This half-polarized phase should correspond to a quantum solid phase in an effective 2D quantum boson model, and the transition from the Coulomb phase with a power-law correlation to this state can be regarded as a superfluid to a quantum solid transition. We discuss possible experimental signatures of this half-polarized state.