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arXiv:2304.07329

Phase diagram of the SU($N$) antiferromagnet of spin $S$ on a square lattice

Jonas Schwab, Francesco Parisen Toldin, Fakher F. Assaad

Published Apr 14, 2023• 0 citations
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Abstract

We investigate the ground state phase diagram of an SU($N$)-symmetric antiferromagnetic spin model on a square lattice where each site hosts an irreducible representation of SU($N$) described by a square Young tableau of $N/2$ rows and $2S$ columns. We show that negative sign free fermion Monte Carlo simulations can be carried out for this class of quantum magnets at any $S$ and even values of $N$. In the large-$N$ limit, the saddle point approximation favors a four-fold degenerate valence bond solid phase. In the large $S$-limit, the semi-classical approximation points to Néel state. On a line set by $N=8S + 2$ in the $S$ versus $N$ phase diagram, we observe a variety of phases proximate to the Néel state. At $S = 1/2$ and $3/2$ we observe the aforementioned four fold degenerate valence bond solid state. At $S=1$ a two fold degenerate spin nematic state in which the C$_4$ lattice symmetry is broken down to C$_2$ emerges. Finally at $S=2$ we observe a unique ground state that pertains to a two-dimensional version of the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki state. For our specific realization, this symmetry protected topological state is characterized by an SU(18), $S=1/2$ boundary state, that has a dimerized ground state. These phases that are proximate to the Néel state are consistent with the notion of monopole condensation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter. In particular one expects spin disordered states with degeneracy set by $\text{mod}(4,2S)$.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2304.07329

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Phase diagram of the SU(NNN) antiferromagnet of spin SSS on a square lattice
We investigate the ground state phase diagram of an SU(NNN)-symmetric antiferromagnetic spin model on a square lattice where each site hosts an irreducible representation of SU(NNN) described by a square Young tableau of N/2N/2N/2 rows and 2S2S2S columns. We show that negative sign free fermion Monte Carlo simulations can be carried out for this class of quantum magnets at any SSS and even values of NNN. In the large-NNN limit, the saddle point approximation favors a four-fold degenerate valence bond solid phase. In the large SSS-limit, the semi-classical approximation points to Néel state. On a line set by N=8S+2N=8S + 2N=8S+2 in the SSS versus NNN phase diagram, we observe a variety of phases proximate to the Néel state. At S=1/2S = 1/2S=1/2 and 3/23/23/2 we observe the aforementioned four fold degenerate valence bond solid state. At S=1S=1S=1 a two fold degenerate spin nematic state in which the C4_44​ lattice symmetry is broken down to C2_22​ emerges. Finally at S=2S=2S=2 we observe a unique ground state that pertains to a two-dimensional version of the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki state. For our specific realization, this symmetry protected topological state is characterized by an SU(18), S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 boundary state, that has a dimerized ground state. These phases that are proximate to the Néel state are consistent with the notion of monopole condensation of the antiferromagnetic order parameter. In particular one expects spin disordered states with degeneracy set by mod(4,2S)\text{mod}(4,2S)mod(4,2S).
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The SU(N)\mathrm{SU}(N)SU(N) symmetric antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with multicolumn representations on the two-dimensional square lattice is investigated by quantum Monte Carlo simulations. For the representation of a Young diagram with two columns, we confirm that a valence-bond solid (VBS) order appears as soon as the N\'eel order disappears at N=10N=10N=10, indicating no intermediate phase. In the case of the representation with three columns, there is no evidence for either the N\'eel or the VBS ordering for $N\ensuremath{\ge}15$. This is actually consistent with the large-NNN theory, which predicts that the VBS state immediately follows the N\'eel state, because the expected spontaneous order is too weak to be detected.
We study the T=0T=0T=0 phase diagrams of models of bilayers of S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 square lattices antiferromagnets with SU(2) Heisenberg symmetry that have 2, 4, and 6 spin exchanges. We study two families of bilayer models with distinct internal symmetries and, hence, different phase diagram topologies. A traditional bilayer model in which the interlayer interaction is Heisenberg so that the two layers can exchange spin (and energy) with each other, making it possible to achieve a simple dimerized valence bond liquid-like state. The resulting phase diagram is rich with Néel, valence bond solid and simple dimer phases, and both first-order and continuous transitions, which we demonstrate are consistent with the conventional Landau theory of order parameters. In the second family of models in which the layers can exchange only energy but no spin (reminiscent of the Ashkin-Teller coupling), the simple dimer state cannot occur. The phase diagrams reveal a number of phase transitions that are accessed for the first time. We find that the phase transition between Néel and VBS is first order in both the spin-spin and energy-energy coupled models, although they have strikingly distinct finite-size scaling behavior and that the transition from VBS to dimer in the spin-spin coupling model deviates from the expected scenario of an XY model with dangerously irrelevant four-fold anisotropy.
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