Interwoven long-range order induced by random fields

Abstract

We propose a distinct type of long-range ordered phase that can occur in classical and quantum many-particle systems. It is induced by impurities and defects that locally break a subset of the order-parameter symmetries, i.e., by random-field disorder that couples to a composite vestigial order parameter. The proposed ``implectic'' phase is characterized by spontaneous symmetry breaking on the background of the spatially interwoven domain structure created by the random fields. We explicitly demonstrate the existence of this phase in a layered $J_1-J_2$ Ising magnet by means of large-scale Monte Carlo simulations. We then discuss numerous potential applications in systems featuring charge and spin density wave order including frustrated magnets, cuprate and iron-based superconductors, and ultracold atoms.