Emergent Classical Spin Liquid Phases in an Ising Lattice via Size Effects

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that classical spin liquid phases can emerge in a two-dimensional Ising lattice due to size effects, revealing new types of spin liquids beyond traditional geometric frustration.

Contribution

It introduces a novel mechanism for spin liquid emergence via lateral confinement in the Shastry-Sutherland Ising lattice, expanding understanding beyond conventional geometric frustration.

Findings

Two distinct classical spin liquid states are stabilized depending on lattice width.

Long-range spin-correlated dimers are observed in certain width regimes.

Exponential decay of spin correlations characterizes other regimes.

Abstract

We show that a classical spin liquid phase can emerge from an ordered magnetic state in the two-dimensional frustrated Shastry-Sutherland Ising lattice due to lateral confinement. Two distinct classical spin liquid states are stabilized (i) long-range spin-correlated dimers, and (ii) exponentially decaying spin-correlated disordered states, depending on widths of W=3n, 3n+1 or W=3n+2, n being a positive integer. Stabilization of spin liquids in a square-triangular lattice moves beyond the conventional geometric paradigm of kagome, triangular or tetrahedral arrangements of antiferromagnetic ions, where spin liquids have been discussed conventionally.