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arXiv:2503.04676

Characterizing $S=3/2$ AKLT Hamiltonian with Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy

M. Ferri-Cortés, J. C. G. Henriques, Joaquín Fernández-Rossier

Published Mar 6, 2025• 0 citations
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Abstract

The AKLT Hamiltonian is a particular instance of a general class of model Hamiltonians defined in lattices with coordination $z$ where each site hosts a spins $S=z/2$, interacting both with linear and non-linear exchange couplings. In two dimensions, the AKLT model features a gap in the spectrum, and its ground state is a valence bond solid state; that is an universal resource for measurement based quantum computing, motivating the quest of physical systems that realize this Hamiltonian. Given a finite-size system described with a specific instance of this general class of models, we address the question of how to asses if such system is a realization of the AKLT model using inelastic tunnel spectroscopy implemented with scanning tunnel microscopy (IETS-STM). We propose two approaches. First, in the case of a dimer, we show how to leverage non-equilibrium IETS-STM to obtain the energies of all excited states, and determine thereby the magnitude of both linear and non-linear exchange interactions. Second, we explore how IETS can probe the in-gap excitations associated to edge spins. In the AKLT limit, spins $S=3/2$ at the edge of the lattice have coordination 2, giving rise to $S=1/2$ dangling spins that can be probed with IETS. We propose a $S=1/2$ effective Hamiltonian to describe the interactions between these dangling spins in the neighborhood of the AKLT point, where their degeneracy lifted.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.2503.04676

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Characterizing S=3/2S=3/2S=3/2 AKLT Hamiltonian with Scanning Tunneling Spectroscopy
The AKLT Hamiltonian is a particular instance of a general class of model Hamiltonians defined in lattices with coordination zzz where each site hosts a spins S=z/2S=z/2S=z/2, interacting both with linear and non-linear exchange couplings. In two dimensions, the AKLT model features a gap in the spectrum, and its ground state is a valence bond solid state; that is an universal resource for measurement based quantum computing, motivating the quest of physical systems that realize this Hamiltonian. Given a finite-size system described with a specific instance of this general class of models, we address the question of how to asses if such system is a realization of the AKLT model using inelastic tunnel spectroscopy implemented with scanning tunnel microscopy (IETS-STM). We propose two approaches. First, in the case of a dimer, we show how to leverage non-equilibrium IETS-STM to obtain the energies of all excited states, and determine thereby the magnitude of both linear and non-linear exchange interactions. Second, we explore how IETS can probe the in-gap excitations associated to edge spins. In the AKLT limit, spins S=3/2S=3/2S=3/2 at the edge of the lattice have coordination 2, giving rise to S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 dangling spins that can be probed with IETS. We propose a S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 effective Hamiltonian to describe the interactions between these dangling spins in the neighborhood of the AKLT point, where their degeneracy lifted.
The Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) Hamiltonian is a particular instance of a general class of model Hamiltonians defined in lattices with coordination zzz where each site hosts a spins S=z/2S=z/2S=z/2, interacting both with linear and nonlinear exchange couplings. In two dimensions, the AKLT model features a gap in the spectrum, and its ground state is a valence bond solid state; that is a universal resource for measurement based quantum computing, motivating the quest of physical systems that realize this Hamiltonian. Given a finite-size system described with a specific instance of this general class of models, we address the question of how to assess if such system is a realization of the AKLT model using inelastic tunnel spectroscopy implemented with scanning tunnel microscopy (IETS-STM). We propose two approaches. First, in the case of a dimer, we show how to leverage nonequilibrium IETS-STM to obtain the energies of all excited states, and determine thereby the magnitude of both linear and nonlinear exchange interactions. Second, we explore how IETS can probe the in-gap excitations associated with edge spins in a hexamer. In the AKLT limit, spins S=3/2S=3/2S=3/2 at the edge of the lattice have coordination 2, giving rise to S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 dangling spins that can be probed with IETS. We propose a S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 effective Hamiltonian to describe the interactions between these dangling spins in the neighborhood of the AKLT point, where their degeneracy lifted.
Unlocking the potential of topological order within many-body spin systems has long been a central pursuit in the realm of quantum materials. Despite extensive efforts, the quest for a versatile platform enabling site-selective spin manipulation, essential for tuning and probing diverse topological phases, has persisted. Here, we utilize on-surface synthesis to construct spin-1/2 alternating-exchange Heisenberg (AH) chains[1] with antiferromagnetic couplings J1J_1J1​ and J2J_2J2​ by covalently linking Clar's goblets -- nanographenes each hosting two antiferromagnetically-coupled unpaired electrons[2]. Utilizing scanning tunneling microscopy, we exert atomic-scale control over the spin chain lengths, parities and exchange-coupling terminations, and probe their magnetic response by means of inelastic tunneling spectroscopy. Our investigation confirms the gapped nature of bulk excitations in the chains, known as triplons[3]. Besides, the triplon dispersion relation is successfully extracted from the spatial variation of tunneling spectral amplitudes. Furthermore, depending on the parity and termination of chains, we observe varying numbers of in-gap S=1/2S=1/2S=1/2 edge spins, enabling the determination of the degeneracy of distinct topological ground states in the thermodynamic limit-either 1, 2, or 4. By monitoring interactions between these edge spins, we identify the exponential decay of spin correlations. Our experimental findings, corroborated by theoretical calculations, present a phase-controlled many-body platform, opening promising avenues toward the development of spin-based quantum devices.
Inelastic electron tunneling spectra (IETS) are evaluated for spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains showing different phases of their spin ordering. The spin ordering is controlled by the value of the two different Heisenberg couplings on the two sides of each of the chain's atoms (bond-alternating chains). The perfect anti-ferromagnetic phase, i.e. a unique exchange coupling, marks a topological quantum phase transition (TQPT) of the bond-alternating chain. Our calculations show that the TQPT is recognizable in the excited states of the chain and hence that IETS is in principle capable of discriminating the phases. We show that perfectly symmetric chains, such as closed rings mimicking infinite chains, yield the same spectra on both sides of the TQPT and IETS cannot reveal the nature of the spin phase. However, for finite size open chains, both sides of the TQPT are associated with different IETS spectra, especially on the edge atoms, thus outlining the transition.
Designing and characterizing the many-body behaviors of quantum materials represents a prominent challenge for understanding strongly correlated physics and quantum information processing. We constructed artificial quantum magnets on a surface by using spin-1/2 atoms in a scanning tunneling microscope (STM). These coupled spins feature strong quantum fluctuations due to antiferromagnetic exchange interactions between neighboring atoms. To characterize the resulting collective magnetic states and their energy levels, we performed electron spin resonance on individual atoms within each quantum magnet. This gives atomic-scale access to properties of the exotic quantum many-body states, such as a finite-size realization of a resonating valence bond state. The tunable atomic-scale magnetic field from the STM tip allows us to further characterize and engineer the quantum states. These results open a new avenue to designing and exploring quantum magnets at the atomic scale for applications in spintronics and quantum simulations.
The Affleck–Kennedy–Lieb–Tasaki (AKLT) spin interacting model can be defined on an arbitrary graph. We explain the construction of the AKLT Hamiltonian. Given certain conditions, the ground state is unique and known as the valence-bond-solid (VBS) state. It can be used in measurement-based quantum computation as a resource state instead of the cluster state. We study the VBS ground state on an arbitrary connected graph. The graph is cut into two disconnected parts: the block and the environment. We study the entanglement between these two parts and prove that many eigenvalues of the density matrix of the block are zero. We describe a subspace of eigenvectors of the density matrix corresponding to non-zero eigenvalues. The subspace is the degenerate ground states of some Hamiltonian which we call the block Hamiltonian.
Two-dimensional (spin-2) Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) type valence bond solids on a square lattice are known to be symmetry-protected topological (SPT) gapped spin liquids [S. Takayoshi, P. Pujol, and A. Tanaka Phys. Rev. B 94, 235159 (2016)]. Using the projected entangled pair state framework, we extend the construction of the AKLT state to the case of SU(3)\text{SU}(3)SU(3), relevant for cold atom systems. The entanglement spectrum is shown to be described by an alternating SU(3)\text{SU}(3)SU(3) chain of ``quarks'' and ``antiquarks'', subject to exponentially decaying (with distance) Heisenberg interactions, in close similarity with its SU(2)\text{SU}(2)SU(2) analog. We discuss the SPT feature of the state.