  In this paper we conduct Monte Carlo simulations to investigate the
thermodynamic properties of a geometry of artificial spin ice recently proposed
in the literature that had been termed "rewritable" spin ice, for its
experimental realization allows total control over the microstates of the
system. Our results show that in the thermodynamic limit a single phase
transition between a fully magnetized state and a paramagnetic state exists,
whereas for finite systems an intermediate phase also emerges, engendering a
low temperature pseudo phase transition. This intermediate phase is
characterized by large magnetic domains separated by domain walls composed of
monopole-like excitations, resulting in low net magnetization values. We also
show that two types of low energy excitations that behave as magnetic monopoles
emerge in the system, both of which are geometrically constrained to move along
a predefined path.

Mesoscale and Nanoscale Physics;Statistical Mechanics