Realization of the kagome spin ice state in a frustrated intermetallic compound

• DOI: 10.1126/science.aaw1666
• Publication Date: 2020-03-12T23:05:26Z
• Authors: Kan Zhao; Hao Deng; Hua Chen; Kate A. Ross; Vaclav Petříček; Gerrit Günther; Margarita Russina; Vladimir Hutanu; Philipp Gegenwart
• Keywords: Spin ice

Spin ices are exotic phases of matter characterized by frustrated spins obeying local ice rules, in analogy with the electric dipoles water ice. In two dimensions, one can similarly define rules for in-plane Ising-like arranged on a kagome lattice. These require each triangle plaquette to have single monopole, and lead various unique orders excitations. Using experimental theoretical approaches including magnetometry, thermodynamic measurements, neutron scattering Monte Carlo simulations, we establish HoAgGe as crystalline (i.e. non-artificial) system that realizes spin state. The features variety partially fully ordered states sequence field-induced at low temperatures, all consistent rule.