Fluctuations of topological charges in two-dimensional classical Heisenberg model

Abstract

Binding and unbinding of vortices drives Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in two-dimensional XY model. Here we investigate whether similar mechanism works in two-dimensional Heisenberg model, by using the fluctuation of skyrmion number inside a loop to characterize the nature of binding versus unbinding of defects. Through Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the fluctuation is proportional to the perimeter of the loop at low temperatures while it is proportional to the area of the loop at high temperatures, implying binding of the defects at low temperatures and unbinding at high temperatures.