Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are magnetic phases that evade long-range order down to the lowest temperatures due to strong quantum fluctuations. Their lack of conventional order parameters, however, makes experimental identification challenging. In this work, we investigate how distinct QSL phases affect phonon dynamics through spinon-phonon coupling. By computing the phonon self-energy, we show that the phonon spectrum remains unrenormalized by spinon interactions, while sound attenuation and phonon thermal conductivity exhibit distinct signatures of the underlying QSL phase. These response functions therefore provide experimentally accessible fingerprints for distinguishing different QSL backgrounds. Remarkably, we find that a chiral QSL coupled to phonons does not generate a phonon thermal Hall effect despite explicitly breaking time-reversal symmetry. Our results establish phonon transport as a potential probe for identifying and characterizing quantum spin liquids.Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are magnetic phases that evade long-range order down to the lowest temperatures due to strong quantum fluctuations. Their lack of conventional order parameters, however, makes experimental identification challenging. In this work, we investigate how distinct QSL phases affect phonon dynamics through spinon-phonon coupling. By computing the phonon self-energy, we show that the phonon spectrum remains unrenormalized by spinon interactions, while sound attenuation and phonon thermal conductivity exhibit distinct signatures of the underlying QSL phase. These response functions therefore provide experimentally accessible fingerprints for distinguishing different QSL backgrounds. Remarkably, we find that a chiral QSL coupled to phonons does not generate a phonon thermal Hall effect despite explicitly breaking time-reversal symmetry. Our results establish phonon transport as a potential probe for identifying and characterizing quantum spin liquids.

arXiv:2609.19050Jul 21, 20260 citations

Dynamics of a Quantum Spin Liquid

Johannes Knolle

Springer thesesJan 1, 201640 citations

Spinon-phonon interaction in algebraic spin liquids

Maksym Serbyn, Patrick A. Lee

Motivated by a search for experimental probes to access the physics of fractionalized excitations called spinons in spin liquids, we study the interaction of spinons with lattice vibrations. We consider the case of algebraic spin liquid, when spinons have fermionic statistics and a Dirac-like dispersion. We establish the general procedure for deriving spinon-phonon interactions, which is based on symmetry considerations. The procedure is illustrated for four different algebraic spin liquids: $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux and staggered-flux phases on a square lattice, $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux phase on a kagome lattice, and zero-flux phase on a honeycomb lattice. Although the low-energy description is similar for all these phases, different underlying symmetry groups lead to a distinct form of spinon-phonon interaction Hamiltonian. The explicit form of the spinon-phonon interaction is used to estimate the attenuation of ultrasound in an algebraic spin liquid. The prospects of the sound attenuation as a probe of spinons are discussed.Motivated by a search for experimental probes to access the physics of fractionalized excitations called spinons in spin liquids, we study the interaction of spinons with lattice vibrations. We consider the case of algebraic spin liquid, when spinons have fermionic statistics and a Dirac-like dispersion. We establish the general procedure for deriving spinon-phonon interactions, which is based on symmetry considerations. The procedure is illustrated for four different algebraic spin liquids: $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux and staggered-flux phases on a square lattice, $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux phase on a kagome lattice, and zero-flux phase on a honeycomb lattice. Although the low-energy description is similar for all these phases, different underlying symmetry groups lead to a distinct form of spinon-phonon interaction Hamiltonian. The explicit form of the spinon-phonon interaction is used to estimate the attenuation of ultrasound in an algebraic spin liquid. The prospects of the sound attenuation as a probe of spinons are discussed.

arXiv:1303.0772Physical Review BMay 22, 201321 citations

Signatures of Spinon Dynamics and Phase Structure of Dipolar-Octupolar Quantum Spin Ices in Two-Dimensional Coherent Spectroscopy

Mark Potts, Roderich Moessner, Owen Benton

We study how sharp signatures of fractionalization emerge in nonlinear spectroscopy experiments on spin liquids with separated energy scales. Our model is that of dipolar-octupolar rare earth pyrochlore materials, prime candidates for realizing quantum spin ice. This family of three-dimensional quantum spin liquids exhibits fractionalization of spin degrees of freedom into spinons charged under an emergent U(1) gauge field. We show that the technique of two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy can identify clear signatures of fractionalized spinon dynamics in dipolar-octupolar quantum spin ices. However, at intermediate temperatures, spinon dynamics are heavily constrained in the presence of an incoherent spin background, leading to a broad two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy response. At lower temperatures, a sharp signal emerges as the system enters a coherent spin liquid state. This lower temperature signal can in turn distinguish between zero-flux and π-flux forms of quantum spin ice.We study how sharp signatures of fractionalization emerge in nonlinear spectroscopy experiments on spin liquids with separated energy scales. Our model is that of dipolar-octupolar rare earth pyrochlore materials, prime candidates for realizing quantum spin ice. This family of three-dimensional quantum spin liquids exhibits fractionalization of spin degrees of freedom into spinons charged under an emergent U(1) gauge field. We show that the technique of two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy can identify clear signatures of fractionalized spinon dynamics in dipolar-octupolar quantum spin ices. However, at intermediate temperatures, spinon dynamics are heavily constrained in the presence of an incoherent spin background, leading to a broad two-dimensional coherent spectroscopy response. At lower temperatures, a sharp signal emerges as the system enters a coherent spin liquid state. This lower temperature signal can in turn distinguish between zero-flux and π-flux forms of quantum spin ice.

arXiv:2406.01472Physical Review LettersNov 27, 20245 citations

Excitations in the chiral spin liquid

Darrell F. Schroeter

Bulletin of the American Physical SocietyMar 17, 20090 citations

Spinon-Induced Phonon Dynamics in Chiral and

π

-Flux Quantum Spin Liquids