Eur. Phys. J. B 13, 289-295 (2000)
https://doi.org/10.1007/s100510050034

Strongly frustrated random antiferromagnets

Departamento de fisica, Universidade federal de Pernambuco, 50670-901 Recife-PE, Brazil

Received: 9 April 1999
Revised: 8 June 1999
Published online: 15 January 2000

Abstract

A high dimensionality calculation (Weiss like) has been carried out for antiferromagnetism (AFM) in structures with many sublattices. By allowing quenched disorder in the exchange interactions our results clearly exhibit the interplay between the effects of lattice frustration and disorder on the system's properties. For given number of sublattices present, there are several possible phases (ordering of the spins) and as many metastable states in the ergodic phases. It is found that the glassy behavior, and metastability, for multi-sublattices systems is substantially enhanced as compared with simple structures, exhibiting structure dependent de Almeida-Thouless lines. Strongly disordered systems have the long-range AFM ordering, ergodic metastable states and glassy phases intermingled in a non-trivial way. Also, even small fluctuations in the exchange parameters do induce sizeable glassy behavior in structures with many sublattices. Spin glass behavior in apparently non-disordered systems as certain pyrochlores may be accounted for within the present context.