Abstract
We introduce a two-dimensional frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet on interpenetrating honeycomb and triangular lattices. Classically the two sublattices decouple, and "order from disorder" drives them into a coplanar state. Applying Friedan's geometric approach to nonlinear sigma models, we obtain the scaling of the spin stiffnesses governed by the Ricci flow of a four-dimensional metric tensor. At low temperatures, the relative phase between the spins on the two sublattices is described by a six-state clock model with an emergent critical phase.
Original language | English (US) |
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Article number | 237205 |
Journal | Physical review letters |
Volume | 109 |
Issue number | 23 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Dec 4 2012 |
Externally published | Yes |