Noncollinear magnetic order in quasicrystals

TL;DR

This paper uses Monte-Carlo simulations to explore how geometric frustration and quasiperiodic atomic arrangements lead to complex three-dimensional noncollinear antiferromagnetic structures in quasicrystals.

Contribution

It introduces a theoretical model showing the emergence of noncollinear magnetic order in quasicrystals due to geometric frustration combined with quasiperiodic order.

Findings

Identification of multiple magnetic supertilings with different energies

Demonstration of noncollinear antiferromagnetic structures

Dependence of subtiling symmetry on atomic quasiperiodicity

Abstract

Based on Monte-Carlo simulations, the stable magnetization configurations of an antiferromagnet on a quasiperiodic tiling are derived theoretically. The exchange coupling is assumed to decrease exponentially with the distance between magnetic moments. It is demonstrated that the superposition of geometric frustration with the quasiperiodic ordering leads to a three-dimensional noncollinear antiferromagnetic spin structure. The structure can be divided into several ordered interpenetrating magnetic supertilings of different energy and characteristic wave vector. The number and the symmetry of subtilings depend on the quasiperiodic ordering of atoms.