Methods for detecting order-by-disorder transitions: the example of the Domino model

Abstract

Abstract Detecting the zero-temperature thermal order-by-disorder (ObD) transition in classical magnetic systems is notably difficult. We propose a method to probe this transition in an indirect way. The idea is to apply adequate and suitably engineered magnetic fields to transform the zero-temperature transition into a finite-temperature sharp crossover, which should be much easier to observe and characterise with usual laboratory methods. Such a crossover should constitute proof of existence of the ObD transition in the underlying unperturbed system.