2017/11/02 by Cristiano Nisoli · 3 citations
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Characterization (materials science) #Condensed matter physics #Degenerate energy levels #Degrees of freedom (physics and chemistry) #Frustration #Materials science #Mathematics #Nano- #Nanotechnology #Physics #Quantum many-body systems #Quantum mechanics #Smart material #Spin (aerodynamics) #Spin ice #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Theoretical physics #Topology (electrical circuits) #cond-mat.mes-hall
paper · pdf · doi:10.1007/978-3-319-76596-9_4
published in Springer series in solid-state sciences, 85-112 (Springer Nature) · 29 pages, 13 figures, 116 references, Book Chapter
arxiv created 2017/11/02 · openalex publication_date 2018/01/01 · arxiv updated 2021/11/18 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05
Artificial Spin Ices are two dimensional arrays of magnetic, interacting nano-structures whose geometry can be chosen at will, and whose elementary degrees of freedom can be characterized directly. They were introduced at first to study frustration in a controllable setting, to mimic the behavior of spin ice rare earth pyrochlores, but at more useful temperature and field ranges and with direct characterization, and to provide practical implementation to celebrated, exactly solvable models of statistical mechanics previously devised to gain an understanding of degenerate ensembles with residual entropy. With the evolution of nano--fabrication and of experimental protocols it is now possible to characterize the material in real-time, real-space, and to realize virtually any geometry, for direct control over the collective dynamics. This has recently opened a path toward the deliberate design of novel, exotic states, not found in natural materials, and often characterized by topological properties. Without any pretense of exhaustiveness, we will provide an introduction to the material, the early works, and then, by reporting on more recent results, we will proceed to describe the new direction, which includes the design of desired topological states and their implications to kinetics.