Classical and quantum phases of the pyrochlore $S=1/2$ magnet with Heisenberg and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions

We investigate the ground state and critical temperature phase diagrams of the classical and quantum $S=1/2$ pyrochlore lattice with nearest-neighbor Heisenberg and Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions (DMI). We consider ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange as well as direct and indirect DMI. Classically, three ground states are found: all-in/all-out, ferromagnetic and a locally ordered $XY$ phase, known as $\Gamma_5$, which displays an accidental classical U(1) degeneracy. Quantum zero-point energy fluctuations are found to lift the classical ground state degeneracy and select the $\psi_3$ state in most parts of the $\Gamma_5$ regime. Likewise, thermal fluctuations treated classically, select the $\psi_3$ state at $T=0^+$. In contrast, classical Monte Carlo finds that the system orders at $T_c$ in the $\psi_2$ state of $\Gamma_5$ for antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange and indirect DMI with a transition from $\psi_2$ to $\psi_3$ at a temperature $T_{\Gamma_5} 更多