Multi-Spin Exchange in Solid 3He on graphite:from Ferromagnetism to Spin Liquid

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  • 12 March 1998
Abstract
Using exact diagonalizations, we investigate the T=0 phase diagram of the Multi-Spin Exchange model on the triangular lattice. In the range of parameters relevant for the second solid layer of 3He on graphite, we predict a phase transition from an antiferromagnetic to a ferromagnetic behavior, in agreement with experimental results. We show that the highly frustrated antiferromagnetic phase is a Quantum Spin Liquid. Far from the transition line this Spin Liquid has a gap for all excitations (it may be in a quantum critical state at the transition line or nearby). We identify the excitations responsible for the experimentally observed peak in the low temperature specific heat. Low density systems far enough from the transition line may undergo metamagnetic transitions between unpolarized, half-polarized, and fully polarized phases.

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