Non-local network-excitation in the Ising antiferromagnet on the anisotropic triangular lattice

Abstract

We study the Ising antiferromagnet on the triangular lattice which are interacting along three different directions via two $J$-bonds and one anisotropic $J'$-bond with $J' \ge J$. Although its finite temperature state has long been considered as simply disordered, we find a systematic generation of a ferromagnetic $J'$-bonds named "good defects" each carrying the energy $2\delta_J\equiv 2(J'-J)$. They exhibit an eminent correlation which is regarded as a network or a soft lattice. The specific heat shows a universal peak at $T^* \sim \delta_J$ and the corresponding energy follows the activation type of temperature-dependence with an excitation gap $2\delta_J$. Energetics and the crossover between this particular two-dimensional state and the other disordered or one-dimensional states are discussed.