Flux fractionalization transition in anisotropic $S=1$ antiferromagnets and dimer-loop models

Abstract

We demonstrate that the low temperature ($T$) properties of a class of anisotropic spin $S=1$ kagome (planar pyrochlore) antiferromagnets on a field-induced $\frac{1}{3}$-magnetization ($\frac{1}{2}$-magnetization) plateau are described by a model of fully-packed dimers and loops on the honeycomb (square) lattice, with a temperature-dependent relative fugacity $w(T)$ for the dimers. The fully-packed O(1) loop model ($w=0$) and the fully-packed dimer model ($w=\infty$) limits of this dimer-loop model are found to be separated by a phase transition at a finite and nonzero critical fugacity $w_c$, with interesting consequences for the spin correlations of the frustrated magnet. The $w>w_c$ phase has short loops and spin correlations dominated by power-law columnar order (with subdominant dipolar correlations), while the $w w_c$, proliferate in the $w<w_c$ phase and destroy power-law columnar order.