Effective field theory of the zero-temperature triangular-lattice antiferromagnet: A monte carlo study.

Using a Monte Carlo coarse-graining technique introduced by Binder [Z. Phys. B 43, 119 (1981)], we have explicitly constructed the continuum field theory for the zero-temperature triangular Ising antiferromagnet. We verify the conjecture that this is a Gaussian theory of the height variable in the interface representation of the spin model. We also measure the height-height correlation function and deduce the stiffness constant. In addition, we investigate the nature of defect-defect interactions at finite temperatures, and find that the two-dimensional Coulomb gas scenario applies at low temperatures.