Quadrupolar quantum criticality on a fractal

Abstract

We study the ground state ordering of quadrupolar ordered $S=1$ magnets as a function of spin dilution probability $p$ on the triangular lattice. In sharp contrast to the ordering of $S=1/2$ dipolar N\'eel magnets on percolating clusters, we find that the quadrupolar magnets are quantum disordered at the percolation threshold, $p=p^*$. Further we find that long-range quadrupolar order is present for all $p<p^*$ and vanishes first exactly at $p^*$. Strong evidence for scaling behavior close to $p^*$ points to an unusual quantum criticality without fine tuning that arises from an interplay of quantum fluctuations and randomness.