1999/04/28 by Corey S. O’Hern, C. S. O'Hern, T. C. Lubensky +2 · 112 citations
Chemistry · Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced NMR Techniques and Applications #Algebraic number #Cationic polymerization #Chemistry #Condensed matter physics #Crystallography #Geometry #Materials science #Mathematical analysis #Mathematics #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Plane (geometry) #Spectroscopy and Quantum Chemical Studies #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spins #Thermodynamics #cond-mat.soft
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevlett.83.2745
published in Physical Review Letters 83(14), 2745-2748 (American Physical Society) · 4 pages of double column text in REVTEX format and 1 postscript figure
arxiv created 1999/04/28 · openalex publication_date 1999/10/04 · openalex created_date 2016/06/24 · arxiv updated 2016/08/31 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
We predict the existence of a new class of phases in weakly coupled, three-dimensional stacks of two-dimensional (2D) XY models. These ``sliding phases'' behave like decoupled, independent 2D XY models with zero free-energy cost for macroscopic relative rotation of spins in different layers and algebraic decay of two-point spin correlation functions with in-plane separation. Our results, which contradict past studies because we include higher-gradient couplings between layers, also apply to crystals and may explain recently observed behavior in cationic lipid-DNA complexes.