2011/08/31 by Zoe Budrikis, Paolo Politi, R. L. Stamps · 60 citations
Chemistry · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Algorithm #Chemistry #Computer science #Condensed matter physics #Energy (signal processing) #Frustration #Ground state #Mathematics #Physics #Quantum many-body systems #Quantum mechanics #Randomness #Sequence (biology) #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin ice #State (computer science) #Statistical physics #Statistics #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Thermodynamics #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.107.217204
published in Physical Review Letters 107(21), 217204 (American Physical Society) · 5 pages, 5 figures
arxiv created 2011/11/16 · openalex publication_date 2011/11/16 · arxiv updated 2011/11/17 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We report a novel approach to the question of whether and how the ground state can be achieved in square artificial spin ices where frustration is incomplete. We identify two sources of randomness that affect the approach to ground state: quenched disorder in the island response to fields and randomness in the sequence of driving fields. Numerical simulations show that quenched disorder can lead to final states with lower energy, and randomness in the sequence of driving fields always lowers the final energy attained by the system. We use a network picture to understand these two effects: disorder in island responses creates new dynamical pathways, and a random sequence of driving fields allows more pathways to be followed.