Fragmentation of magnetism in artificial kagome dipolar spin ice

TL;DR

This study visualizes magnetic states in artificial kagome dipolar spin ice, revealing a spin fragmentation process that splits magnetic degrees of freedom, enhancing understanding of frustrated magnetism and emergent phenomena.

Contribution

It demonstrates the experimental observation of spin fragmentation in artificial kagome dipolar spin ice and interprets it using a hybrid spin-charge model, advancing the understanding of frustrated magnetic systems.

Findings

Evidence of spin fragmentation in real and reciprocal space

Internal organization explained by a hybrid spin-charge model

Insights into emergent fields in frustrated magnets

Abstract

Geometrical frustration in magnetic materials often gives rise to exotic, low-temperature states of matter, like the ones observed in spin ices. Here we report the imaging of the magnetic states of a thermally-active artificial magnetic ice that reveal the fingerprints of a spin fragmentation process. This fragmentation corresponds to a splitting of the magnetic degree of freedom into two channels and is evidenced in both real and reciprocal space. Furthermore, the internal organization of both channels is interpreted within the framework of a hybrid spin-charge model that directly emerges from the parent spin model of the kagome dipolar spin ice. Our experimental and theoretical results provide insights into the physics of frustrated magnets and deepen our understanding of emergent fields through the use of tailor-made magnetism.