Possible chiral spin liquid state in the S = 1/2 kagome Heisenberg model

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Rong Yang Sun - , RIKEN Center for Computational Science, RIKEN Center for Quantum Computing, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences (Author)
  • Hui Ke Jin - , Technical University of Munich (Author)
  • Hong Hao Tu - , Junior Professorship in Correltated Electrons and Topology, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Yi Zhou - , University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, CAS - Institute of Physics (Author)

Abstract

The nature of the ground state for the S = 1/2 Kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet (KHAF) has been elusive. We revisit this challenging problem and provide numerical evidence that its ground state is a chiral spin liquid. Combining the density matrix renormalization group method with analytical analyses, we demonstrate that the previously observed chiral spin liquid phase in the KHAF with longer-range couplings is stable in a broader region of the phase diagram. We characterize the nature of the ground state by computing energy derivatives, revealing the ground-state degeneracy arising from the spontaneous breaking of the time-reversal symmetry, and targeting the semion sector. We further investigate the phase diagram in the vicinity of the KHAF and observe a 3×3 magnetically ordered phase and two valence-bond crystal phases.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article number16
Journalnpj quantum materials
Volume9
Issue number1
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2024
Peer-reviewedYes