Abstract In condensed matter physics there is a novel phase termed ‘quantum spin liquid’, in which strong quantum fluctuations prevent long-range magnetic order from being estab lished, and so electron spins do not form an ordered pattern but remain liquid-like even at absolute zero temperature. Such a phase is not involved in any spontaneous symmetry breaking and local order parameter, and to understand it is beyond conventional phase transition theory. Due to the rich physics and exotic properties of quantum spin liquids, such as long-range entanglement and fractional quantum excitations, which are believed to hold great potential for quantum communication and computation, they have been intensively studied since the concept was proposed in 1973 by P.W. Anderson. Currently, experimental identification of a quantum spin liquid remains a great challenge. Here, we highlight some interesting experimental progress that has been made recently. We also discuss outstanding issues and raise questions that we consider to be important for future research.
Abstract In condensed matter physics there is a novel phase termed ‘quantum spin liquid’, in which strong quantum fluctuations prevent long-range magnetic order from being estab lished, and so electron spins do not form an ordered pattern but remain liquid-like even at absolute zero temperature. Such a phase is not involved in any spontaneous symmetry breaking and local order parameter, and to understand it is beyond conventional phase transition theory. Due to the rich physics and exotic properties of quantum spin liquids, such as long-range entanglement and fractional quantum excitations, which are believed to hold great potential for quantum communication and computation, they have been intensively studied since the concept was proposed in 1973 by P.W. Anderson. Currently, experimental identification of a quantum spin liquid remains a great challenge. Here, we highlight some interesting experimental progress that has been made recently. We also discuss outstanding issues and raise questions that we consider to be important for future research.
Quantum spin liquids may be considered 'quantum disordered' ground states of spin systems, in which zero-point fluctuations are so strong that they prevent conventional magnetic long-range order. More interestingly, quantum spin liquids are prototypical examples of ground states with massive many-body entanglement, which is of a degree sufficient to render these states distinct phases of matter. Their highly entangled nature imbues quantum spin liquids with unique physical aspects, such as non-local excitations, topological properties, and more. In this review, we discuss the nature of such phases and their properties based on paradigmatic models and general arguments, and introduce theoretical technology such as gauge theory and partons, which are conveniently used in the study of quantum spin liquids. An overview is given of the different types of quantum spin liquids and the models and theories used to describe them. We also provide a guide to the current status of experiments in relation to study quantum spin liquids, and to the diverse probes used therein.
Quantum spin liquids, systems in which quantum fluctuations prevent the magnetic ordering of the spin degrees of freedom down to zero temperature, have been the source of much recent theoretical and experimental interest. These systems are characterised by their long ranged entangled states, preserve symmetries down to zero Kelvin, and have been shown to exhibit fascinating properties such as a topological ground state degeneracy and fractionalised spin excitations. In this thesis, we study several of these phases. The first, Kitaev spin liquids, appear in strongly spin-orbit coupled systems, where the SU(2) spin symmetry is broken. Within our mean field approach, we study the quantum phase transition from the gapless Z 2 spin liquid to a magnetically ordered phase within the Heisenberg-Kitaev model. Beyond the mean field theory, we argue that the gauge structure of the spin liquid plays a crucial role in this transition, leading to a confinement of spinons and the generation of magnetic order. We also discuss the three-dimensional iridate compounds, where the Kitaev spin liquid phase has topologically protected bulk and surface excitations. We next discuss spin liquids appearing on the geometrically frustrated kagome lattice. First, we consider non-Kramers spin liquids, in which the spin structure of the theory is protected by lattice, rather than time-reversal, symmetry. As a result, more phases are allowed, which have different properties than those which transform as Kramers doublets. In addition, these may have positive experimental signatures in the Raman scattering intensity, offering a clear path to detect such a state. Finally, we examine possible spin liquid phases on a breathing kagome lattice, where we find a stable Z2 spin liquid to be the ground state. This may help to guide future numerical studies of the kagome lattice Heisenberg model, and may also be relevant to DQVOF, a recently discovered spin liquid candidate compound.
A glance at recent research on magnetism turns up a curious set of articles discussing, or claiming evidence for, a state of matter called a quantum spin liquid (QSL). These articles are notable in their invocation of exotic notions of topological physics, quantum entanglement, fractional quantum numbers, anyon statistics and gauge field theories. So what is a QSL and why do we need this complicated technical vocabulary to describe it? Our aim in this article is to introduce some of these concepts and provide a discussion of what a QSL is, where it might occur in Nature and why it is of interest. As we'll see, this is a rich subject which is still in development, and unambiguous evidence for the realisation of the QSL state in a magnetic material remains hotly debated. However, the payoff in terms of the special nature of quantum entanglement in the QSL, and its diverse spectrum of unusual excitations and topological status will (at least to some extent) justify the need to engage with some powerful, occasionally abstract, technical material.
Quantum spin liquids have fascinated condensed matter physicists for decades because of their unusual properties such as spin fractionalization and long-range entanglement. Unlike conventional symmetry breaking, the topological order underlying quantum spin liquids is hard to detect experimentally. Even theoretical models are scarce for which the ground state is established to be a quantum spin liquid. The Kitaev honeycomb model and its generalizations to other tricoordinated lattices are chief counterexamples—they are exactly solvable, harbor a variety of quantum spin liquid phases, and are also relevant for certain transition metal compounds including the polymorphs of (Na,Li) 2 IrO 3 iridates and RuCl 3 . In this review, we give an overview of the rich physics of the Kitaev model, including two-dimensional and three-dimensional fractionalization as well as dynamic correlations and behavior at finite temperatures. We discuss the different materials and argue how the Kitaev model physics can be relevant even though most materials show magnetic ordering at low temperatures.
It is a central goal of physics to characterize and classify quantum phases of matter, and it is by now well appreciated that both symmetry and entanglement play important role in understanding quantum phases. In past years, significant progress has been made in classifying 2D gapped phases featuring interesting interplay between long-range entanglement and symmetries. This paper is one of the first systematic studies of 3D gapless systems, where the interplay between entanglement and symmetry gives rise to interesting physics. This is an important step towards a more comprehensive understanding of the structure of quantum phases in general. Moreover, the classification scheme used here is based on direct and physical characterizations of the system, rather than formal abstract mathematics. This physics-based method can also be generalized to other systems. This way of thinking will pave the way to achieve a better understanding of the physical properties of exotic phases of matter.
The search for exotic states of matter continues to be a central theme in condensed matter physics. Among these, quantum spin liquids (QSLs) represent a profound challenge and opportunity, characterized by long-range entanglement and fractionalized excitations without conventional magnetic order even at absolute zero temperature. Frustrated quantum magnets are prime candidates for hosting such states, where competing interactions prevent classical ground states. This paper reports the theoretical and experimental signatures that would lead to the discovery of a chiral bosonic liquid (CBL) in a novel frustrated quantum magnet. A CBL is a particularly elusive type of QSL characterized by elementary excitations that behave as bosons and exhibit a distinct chirality, manifesting as a non-zero thermal Hall effect in the absence of a magnetic field. We outline a comprehensive strategy involving advanced material synthesis, precise low-temperature thermodynamic measurements, inelastic neutron scattering, and numerical simulations to identify the unique fingerprints of this novel state. Key indicators include a gapless or nearly gapless excitation spectrum, a specific heat scaling characteristic of bosonic excitations, and, most critically, a quantized or near-quantized thermal Hall conductivity directly reflecting the chiral nature of the bosonic fractional excitations. The implications of this discovery extend to fundamental understanding of quantum entanglement, topological states of matter, and potential applications in robust quantum information processing.