String Theory Seminars

Melting of three-sublattice order: How does a KT phase pinch off? [Part 2] (Quantum Spacetime Seminar Series)

by Prof. Kedar Damle (TIFR, Mumbai)

Tuesday, March 7, 2017 from to (Asia/Kolkata)
at A 304
Description
On lattices with triangular symmetry, competition between different antiferromagnetic interactions results in a macroscopic degeneracy of low energy configurations for easy-axis magnets. Small perturbations or quantum fluctuations then seed a three-sublattice ordered state which breaks lattice and spin symmetries. The question in the title has to do with the temperature-driven transition from this long-range ordered state to a high temperature paramagnet: In addition to a direct first order transition, which is certainly possible, two other scenarios are possible on general (symmetry) grounds: a two-step melting process, with an intermediate Kosterlitz-Thouless (KT) phase, or a sequence of two second- order transitions. After introducing this physics, I will try and outline a couple of questions (and some partial answers) about the multicritical point(s?) at which the intermediate KT phase pinches-off to give way to either a first- order transition line or two second-order transition lines.