Nature of Possible Magnetic Phases in Frustrated Hyperkagome Iridate

TL;DR

This study explores the magnetic phases in frustrated hyperkagome iridate Na$_4$Ir$_{3}$O$_8$ using a Kitaev-Heisenberg model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, revealing two main ordered phases and complex crossover phenomena.

Contribution

It identifies and characterizes the dominant magnetic phases and phase transitions in Na-438, highlighting the role of Z$_2$, Z$_6$, and Z$_8$ symmetries and crossover effects.

Findings

Two main magnetic ordered phases: Z$_2$ and Z$_6$ SB.

First order phase transition with Z$_8$-like symmetry.

Critical behavior follows 3D XY universality class.

Abstract

Based on Kitaev-Heisenberg model with Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya (DM) interactions, we studied nature of possible magnetic phases in frustrated hyperkagome iridate, Na$_4$Ir$_{3}$O$_8$ (Na-438). Using Monte-Carlo simulation, we showed that the phase diagram is mostly covered by two competing magnetic ordered phases; Z$_2$ symmetry breaking (SB) phase and Z$_6$ SB phase, latter of which is stabilized by the classical order by disorder. These two phases are separated by a first order phase transition line with Z$_8$-like symmetry. The critical nature at the Z$_6$ SB ordering temperature is characterized by the 3D XY universality class, below which U(1) to Z$_6$ crossover phenomena appears; the Z$_6$ spin anisotropy becomes irrelevant in a length scale shorter than a crossover length $\Lambda_*$ while becomes relevant otherwise. A possible phenomenology of polycrystalline Na-438 is discussed based on this crossover phenomena.