Prethermal time-crystalline spin ice and monopole confinement in a driven magnet

TL;DR

This paper explores a driven-dissipative frustrated spin system that exhibits a non-magnetic phase with spatial ice rule adherence and long-range temporal order, revealing monopole confinement due to nonequilibrium effects.

Contribution

It introduces a novel out-of-equilibrium spin ice model demonstrating time-crystalline order and monopole confinement, expanding understanding of exotic phases in driven systems.

Findings

Identification of a non-magnetic phase with space-time order

Demonstration of monopole confinement in a nonequilibrium setting

Discussion of potential experimental realizations

Abstract

Studies on systems far from equilibrium open up new avenues for investigating exotic phases of matter. A driven-dissipative frustrated spin system is examined in this study, and we suggest an out-of-equilibrium non-magnetic phase where the spins do not order but adhere to the ice rule in space and establish a long-range crystalline order in time. In contrast to the conventional spin ice, the dynamics of monopoles is confined due to the nonequilibrium feature of our model. Possible experimental realizations of our model has been discussed.