Frustrated Heisenberg Antiferromagnets between d=2 and d=3

TL;DR

This study investigates the critical behavior of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on stacked triangular layers, revealing the significance of topological excitations in phase transitions between two and three dimensions.

Contribution

It provides new insights into the role of topological excitations in finite-thickness Heisenberg antiferromagnets using Monte Carlo simulations.

Findings

Finite-temperature topological phase transition occurs for all film thicknesses.

Topological excitations are crucial for understanding critical properties.

Transition behavior interpolates between 2D and 3D systems.

Abstract

The antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a stacked triangular geometry with a finite number of layers is studied using Monte Carlo methods. A topological phase transition occurs at finite temperature for all film thicknesses. Our results indicate that topological excitations are important for a complete understanding of the critical properties of the model between two and three dimensions.