Dynamics of a fractal set of first-order magnetic phase transitions in frustrated Lu 2 CoMnO 6

Magnetic frustration can produce exotic spin configurations and dynamics. Here, the authors explore the seemingly simple competition between ferromagnetic nearest- and antiferromagnetic next-nearest neighbor interactions along Ising spin chains, as realized in the magnetoelectric compound Lu${}_{2}$CoMnO${}_{6}$. Commonly, this situation is described by the axial next-nearest-neighbor Ising model. For the first time, the authors measure and calculate its correlated magnetic dynamics, resulting from a characteristic fractal set of first-order phase boundaries. Experiments and Monte Carlo simulations reveal a dynamics slowdown while approaching the phase transition regime.