Non-degenerate ground state in the antiferromagnetic double-exchange model on a triangular lattice

Abstract

In order to study effects of frustration in an itinerant electron system, we investigate ground states of the antiferromagnetic double-exchange model on a triangular lattice. In this model, pseudo-spins are coupled to electron transfer integrals in such a way that antiparallel configurations of pseudo-spins gain kinetic energies. Although the antiferromagnetic Ising model on a triangular lattice shows macroscopic dengenerate ground states, the present model shows that the degeneracy is lifted due to long-range natures of the double exchange interactions. Spin ordering at the ground state is also discussed. © 2005 The Physical Society of Japan.