Abstract:Background. Low-dimensional quantum magnets based on geometrically frustrated lattices are of considerable interest last time. As a typical example of such systems is the delta-chain which is a linear chain of triangles with spins on vertices. The delta-chain with AF exchange interactions is well studied and has a number of unusual properties. However, the same model with competing ferro (F)-and antiferromagnetic (AF) interactions is less studied. The purpose of this work is the study of the anisotropic F-AF delta-chain on the critical line separating different ground state phases, the calculation of the ground state degeneracy, residual entropy etc. Materials and methods. The study of this model is both analytically and numerically. It is proposed a method of construction of exact ground state wave functions and accounting of the number of ground ststes states in each spin sector. The analytical results are confirmed by numerical calculations of finite chains. Results. It is shown that the ground state manifold of the F-AF delta-chain on the critical line consists of localized magnons. Together with isolated magnons there are bound magnon complexes which give dominated contribution in ground state manifold in the thermodynamic limit. Conclusions. Spin systems with macroscopically degenerated ground state and with residual entropy demonstrate significant magnetocaloric effect. Taking into account great progress in a synthesis of frustrated magnets, it can be expected that real compounds of the F-AF delta-chain type with parameters close to critical ones will be obtained and these compounds will be used for the construction of effective magnetocooling devices.
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