SU ( N ) quantum spin systems may be realized in a variety of physical systems including ultracold atoms in optical lattices. The study of such models also leads to insights into possible novel quantum phases and phase transitions of SU (2) spin models. Here we use Gutzwiller projected fermionic variational wavefunctions to explore the phase diagram and correlation functions of SU ( N ) quantum spin models in the self-conjugate representation. In one dimension, the ground state of the SU (4) spin chain with Heisenberg bilinear and biquadratic interactions is studied by examining instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion ground state to various broken symmetries. The variational phase diagram so obtained agrees well with exact results. The spin–spin and dimer–dimer correlation functions of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion state with N flavours of fermions are in good agreement with exact and 1/ N calculations for the critical points of SU ( N ) spin chains. In two dimensions, the phase diagram of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the square lattice is obtained by finding instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected π-flux state. In the absence of biquadratic interactions, the model exhibits long-range Néel order for N = 2 and 4, and spin Peierls (columnar dimer) order for N >4. Upon including biquadratic interactions in the SU (4) model (with a sign appropriate to a fermionic Hubbard model), the Néel order diminishes and eventually disappears, giving way to an extended valence bond crystal. In the case of the SU (6) model, the dimerized ground state melts at sufficiently large biquadratic interaction, yielding a projected π-flux spin liquid phase which in turn undergoes a transition into an extended valence bond crystal at even larger biquadratic interaction. The spin correlations of the projected π-flux state at N = 4 are in good agreement with 1/ N calculations. We find that the state shows strongly enhanced dimer correlations, in qualitative agreement with recent theoretical predictions. We also compare our results with a recent quantum Monte Carlo study of the SU (4) Heisenberg model.
SU ( N ) quantum spin systems may be realized in a variety of physical systems including ultracold atoms in optical lattices. The study of such models also leads to insights into possible novel quantum phases and phase transitions of SU (2) spin models. Here we use Gutzwiller projected fermionic variational wavefunctions to explore the phase diagram and correlation functions of SU ( N ) quantum spin models in the self-conjugate representation. In one dimension, the ground state of the SU (4) spin chain with Heisenberg bilinear and biquadratic interactions is studied by examining instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion ground state to various broken symmetries. The variational phase diagram so obtained agrees well with exact results. The spin–spin and dimer–dimer correlation functions of the Gutzwiller projected free fermion state with N flavours of fermions are in good agreement with exact and 1/ N calculations for the critical points of SU ( N ) spin chains. In two dimensions, the phase diagram of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the square lattice is obtained by finding instabilities of the Gutzwiller projected π-flux state. In the absence of biquadratic interactions, the model exhibits long-range Néel order for N = 2 and 4, and spin Peierls (columnar dimer) order for N >4. Upon including biquadratic interactions in the SU (4) model (with a sign appropriate to a fermionic Hubbard model), the Néel order diminishes and eventually disappears, giving way to an extended valence bond crystal. In the case of the SU (6) model, the dimerized ground state melts at sufficiently large biquadratic interaction, yielding a projected π-flux spin liquid phase which in turn undergoes a transition into an extended valence bond crystal at even larger biquadratic interaction. The spin correlations of the projected π-flux state at N = 4 are in good agreement with 1/ N calculations. We find that the state shows strongly enhanced dimer correlations, in qualitative agreement with recent theoretical predictions. We also compare our results with a recent quantum Monte Carlo study of the SU (4) Heisenberg model.
The nature of quantum spin liquids is studied for the spin-1/2 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a square lattice containing exchange interactions between nearest-neighbor sites, J1, and those between next-nearest-neighbor sites, J2. We perform variational Monte Carlo simulations together with the quantum-number-projection technique and clarify the phase diagram in the ground state together with its excitation spectra. We obtain the nonmagnetic phase in the region 0.4<J2/J1≤0.6 sandwiched by the staggered and stripe antiferromagnetic (AF) phases. Our direct calculations of the spin gap support the notion that the triplet excitation from the singlet ground state is gapless in the range of 0.4<J2/J1≤0.5, while the gapped valence-bond-crystal (VBC) phase is stabilized for 0.5<J2/J1≤0.6. The VBC order is likely to have the columnar symmetry with a spontaneous symmetry breaking of the C4v symmetry. The power-law behaviors of the spin-spin and dimer-dimer correlation functions in the gapless region are consistent with the emergence of the algebraic quantum-spin-liquid phase (critical phase). The exponent of the spin correlation ⟨S(0)S(r)⟩∝1/rz+η at a long distance r appears to increase from z+η∼1 at J2/J1∼0.4 toward the continuous transition to the VBC phase at J1/J1∼0.5. Our results, however, do not fully exclude the possibility of a direct quantum transition between the staggered AF and VBC phases with a wide critical region and deconfined criticality.
We study in this paper a series of Gutzwiller projected wave functions for S=1 spin chains obtained from a fermionic mean-field theory for general S>1/2 spin systems [Liu, Zhou, and Ng, Phys. Rev. B 81, 224417 (2010)] applied to the bilinear-biquadratic (J-K) model. The free-fermion mean-field states before the projection are 1D paring states. By comparing the energies and correlation functions of the projected pairing states with those obtained from known results, we show that the optimized Gutzwiller projected wave functions are very good trial ground-state wave functions for the antiferromagnetic bilinear-biquadratic model in the regime K<J ($\ensuremath{-}3\ensuremath{\pi}/4<\ensuremath{\theta}<\ensuremath{\pi}/4$). We find that different topological phases of the free-fermion paring states correspond to different spin phases: the weak pairing (topologically nontrivial) state gives rise to the Haldane phase, whereas the strong pairing (topologically trivial) state gives rise to the dimer phase. In particular, the mapping between the Haldane phase and Gutwziller wave function is exact at the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) point K/J=1/3 [$\ensuremath{\theta}={\mathrm{tan}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}(1/3)$]. The transition point between the two phases determined by the optimized Gutzwiller projected wave function is in good agreement with the known result. The effect of Z2 gauge fluctuations above the mean-field theory is analyzed.
We investigate the phase diagram of the half-filled SU(N) Hubbard-Heisenberg model with hopping t, exchange J, and Hubbard U, on a two-dimensional square lattice. In the large-N limit, and as a function of decreasing values of t∕J, the model shows a transition from a d-density wave state to a spin dimerized insulator. A similar behavior is observed at N=6 whereas at N=2 a spin density wave insulating ground state is stabilized. The N=4 model, has a d-density wave ground state at large values of t∕J which as a function of decreasing values of t∕J becomes unstable to an insulating state with no apparent lattice and spin broken symmetries. In this state, the staggered spin-spin correlations decay as a power law, resulting in gapless spin excitations at $\stackrel{P\vec}{q}=(\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\pi})$. Furthermore, low lying spin modes with small spectral weight are apparent around the wave vectors $\stackrel{P\vec}{q}=(0,\ensuremath{\pi})$ and $\stackrel{P\vec}{q}=(\ensuremath{\pi},0)$. This gapless spin liquid state is equally found in the SU(4) Heisenberg $(U∕t\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty})$ model in the self-adjoint antisymmetric representation. An interpretation of this state in terms of a $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux phase is offered. Our results stem from projective (T=0) quantum Monte Carlo simulations on lattice sizes ranging up to $24\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}24$.
The interplay between charge and spin degrees of freedom in strongly correlated fermionic systems, in particular of Dirac fermions, is a long-standing problem in condensed matter physics. We investigate the competing orders in the half-filled SU(2N) Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice, which can be accurately realized in optical lattices with ultracold large-spin alkaline-earth fermions. Employing large-scale projector determinant quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we have explored quantum phase transitions from the gapless Dirac semimetals to the gapped Mott insulating phases in the SU(4) and SU(6) cases. Both of these Mott insulating states are found to be columnar valence bond solid (cVBS) and to be absent of the antiferromagnetic N\'eel ordering and the loop current ordering. Inside the cVBS phases, the dimer ordering is enhanced by increasing fermion components and behaves nonmonotonically as the interaction strength increases. Although the transitions generally should be of first order due to a cubic invariance possessed by the cVBS order, the coupling to gapless Dirac fermions can soften the transitions to second order through a nonanalytic term in the free energy. Our simulations provide important guidance for the experimental explorations of novel states of matter with ultracold alkaline-earth fermions.
Phase diagram of the SU(N) antiferromagnet of spin S on a square lattice
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 C4 lattice symmetry is broken down to C2 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 mod(4,2S).
We study the ground state phase diagram of the bilayer Heisenberg model on a square lattice with a bosonic resonating valence bond (RVB) wavefunction. The wavefunction has the form of a Gutzwiller projected Schwinger boson mean-field ground state and involves two variational parameters. We find the wavefunction provides an accurate description of the system on both sides of the quantum phase transition. In particular, through the analysis of the spin structure factor, ground state fidelity susceptibility and the Binder moment ratio Q(2), a continuous transition from the antiferromagnetic ordered state to the quantum disordered state is found at the critical coupling of α(c) = J(⊥)/J(∥) ≈ 2.62, in good agreement with the result of quantum Monte Carlo simulation. The critical exponent estimated from the finite size scaling analysis (1/ν ≈ 1.4) is consistent with that of the classical 3D Heisenberg universality class.