Arc-shaped structure factor in the $J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$ classical Heisenberg model on the triangular lattice

Abstract

We study the $J_1$-$J_2$-$J_3$ classical Heisenberg model with ferromagnetic $J_1$ on the triangular lattice using the nematic bond theory. For parameters where the momentum space coupling function $J_{\vec{q}}$ shows a discrete set of minima, we find that the system in general exhibits a single first-order phase transition between the high-temperature ring liquid and the low-temperature single-$\vec{q}$ planar spiral state. Close to where $J_{\vec{q}}$ shows a continuous minimum, we on the other hand find several phase transitions upon lowering the temperature. Most interestingly, we find an intermediate temperature "arc" regime, where the structure factor breaks rotational symmetry and shows a broad arc-shaped maximum. We map out the parameter region over which this arc regime exists and characterize details of its static structure factor over the same region.