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arXiv:1604.01459 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Emergent quasi-one-dimensionality in a kagome magnet: A simple route to complexity

Shou-Shu Gong, Wei Kang Zhu, Kun Yang, Oleg A. Starykh, D. N. Sheng, Leon Balents

Published Jul 27, 2016• 27 citations
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Abstract

We study the ground-state phase diagram of the quantum $\text{spin-}1/2$ Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice with first- $({J}_{1}<0)$, second- $({J}_{2}<0)$, and third-neighbor interactions $({J}_{d}>0)$ by means of analytical low-energy field theory and numerical density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) studies. The results offer a consistent picture of the ${J}_{d}\text{-dominant}$ regime in terms of three sets of spin chains weakly coupled by the ferromagnetic interchain interactions ${J}_{1,2}$. When either ${J}_{1}$ or ${J}_{2}$ is much stronger than the other one, the model is found to support one of two cuboctohedral phases, cuboc1, and cuboc2. These cuboc states host noncoplanar long-ranged magnetic order and possess finite scalar spin chirality. However, in the compensated regime ${J}_{1}\ensuremath{\simeq}{J}_{2}$, a valence bond crystal phase emerges between the two cuboc phases. We find excellent agreement between an analytical theory based on coupled spin chains and unbiased DMRG calculations, including at a very detailed level of comparison of the structure of the valence bond crystal state. To our knowledge, this is the first such comprehensive understanding of a highly frustrated two-dimensional quantum antiferromagnet. We find no evidence of either the one-dimensional gapless spin liquid or the chiral spin liquids, which were previously suggested by parton mean-field theories.

DOI
10.1103/physrevb.94.035154

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We study the quantum phase diagram of the spin-1/21/21/2 Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice with first-, second-, and third-neighbor interactions J1,J2{J}_{1},{J}_{2}J1​,J2​, and J3{J}_{3}J3​ by means of density matrix renormalization group. For small J2{J}_{2}J2​ and J3{J}_{3}J3​, this model sustains a time-reversal invariant quantum spin-liquid phase. With increasing J2{J}_{2}J2​ and J3{J}_{3}J3​, we find in addition a q=(0,0)q=(0,0)q=(0,0) N\'eel phase, a chiral spin-liquid phase, an apparent valence-bond crystal phase, and a complex noncoplanar magnetically ordered state with spins forming the vertices of a cuboctahedron known as a cuboc1 phase. Both the chiral spin liquid and cuboc1 phase break time-reversal symmetry in the sense of spontaneous scalar spin chirality. We show that the chiralities in the chiral spin liquid and cuboc1 are distinct, and that these two states are separated by a strong first-order phase transition. The transitions from the chiral spin liquid to both the q=(0,0)q=(0,0)q=(0,0) phase and to time-reversal symmetric spin liquid, however, are consistent with continuous quantum phase transitions.
The spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice, which is closely realized in layered Mott insulators such as ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2{\mathrm{ZnCu}}_{3}{(\mathrm{OH})}_{6}{\mathrm{Cl}}_{2}ZnCu3​(OH)6​Cl2​, is one of the oldest and most enigmatic spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ lattice models. While the numerical evidence has accumulated in favor of a quantum spin liquid, the debate is still open as to whether it is a Z2{Z}_{2}Z2​ spin liquid with very short-range correlations (some kind of resonating valence bond spin liquid), or an algebraic spin liquid with power-law correlations. To address this issue, we have pushed the program started by Rokhsar and Kivelson in their derivation of the effective quantum dimer model description of Heisenberg models to unprecedented accuracy for the spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ kagome, by including all the most important virtual singlet contributions on top of the orthogonalization of the nearest-neighbor valence bond singlet basis. Quite remarkably, the resulting picture is a competition between a Z2{Z}_{2}Z2​ spin liquid and a diamond valence bond crystal with a 12-site unit cell, as in the density-matrix renormalization group simulations of Yan et al. Furthermore, we found that, on cylinders of finite diameter ddd, there is a transition between the Z2{Z}_{2}Z2​ spin liquid at small ddd and the diamond valence bond crystal at large ddd, the prediction of the present microscopic description for the two-dimensional lattice. These results show that, if the ground state of the spin-12\frac{1}{2}21​ kagome antiferromagnet can be described by nearest-neighbor singlet dimers, it is a diamond valence bond crystal, and, a contrario, that, if the system is a quantum spin liquid, it has to involve long-range singlets, consistent with the algebraic spin liquid scenario.
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Using exact numerical diagonalizations as well as the semiclassical spin-wave approach, we study the quantum phase diagram of the spin-12 Heisenberg kagome strip, which is a particular cut-out from the kagome lattice. The unit cell contains five spins placed on the central cite and on the four end sites building two spin-12 along the strip. The model can be characterized by three different constants for the nearest-neighbor exchange bonds between (i) the central and chain spins (J1), (ii) the end spins in a cluster (J2 > 0), and (ii) the spins of neighboring clusters (J′2>0) In the present work we extend the previous studies of the model, which were restricted to antiferromagnetic J1 bonds (J1 > 0), by including the region with ferromagnetic J1 couplings (J1<0). It is demonstrated that for dominating ferromagnetic J1 couplings there is another gapless phase, which can be related to the critical ground state of the spin-52 Heisenberg chain. The phase boundaries separating the discussed critical phases, as well as the behavior of their low-lying excitations close to these boundaries, are examined as well.
Frustrated quantum magnets have received a lot of attention in the past decades for they are expected to host exotic magnetic states such as quantum spin liquids exhibiting fractionalized excitations and topological properties. One way to study these spin liquid phases is to perform a parton construction of the quantum Heisenberg Hamiltonian. This mean-field method has the valuable advantage of treating magnetically ordered states and spin-liquid states on an equal footing. In this thesis, we have employed such a method based on the Schwinger boson mean-field theory (SBMFT) to study two magnetically frustrated systems. After a brief introduction of the core concepts behind frustrated magnetic systems in chapter 1 we will introduce the Schwinger boson theory and the associated numerical tools in chapter 2. In chapter 3, we will present the full phase diagram of the J1-J2 Heisenberg model on the square-kagome lattice with a particurlarly interesting ground state in the form of a topological nematic spin liquid. We will then make connections with a recently synthesized compound exhibiting perfect square-kagome geometry. In the final chapter of this manuscript, we will turn to the J1-J2-J3 Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice in the case where J2=J3=J. Once again, a full phase diagram is obtained thanks to our SBMFT self-consistent procedure. It is composed of three distinct ground states: a chiral spin liquid for J<1/3, a chiral long-range order for J>1/2 and a symmetric spin liquid in between. Finally, we will make connections with previous quantum and classical works, especially by discussing the presence of half-moon patterns in the static structure factor of an excited state of the model for J>1/2. In conclusion, we have revealed both rich and complex phase diagrams presenting various exotic spin-liquid states on the two frustrated systems studied in this manuscript.