Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids

Material realizations of the bond-dependent Kitaev interactions with S=1/2 local moments have vitalized the research in quantum spin liquids. Recently, it has been proposed that higher-spin analogs of the Kitaev interactions may also occur in a number of materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. In...

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Main Authors: Ilia Khait, P. Peter Stavropoulos, Hae-Young Kee, Yong Baek Kim
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: American Physical Society 2021-02-01
Series:Physical Review Research
Online Access:http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.013160
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author Ilia Khait
P. Peter Stavropoulos
Hae-Young Kee
Yong Baek Kim
author_facet Ilia Khait
P. Peter Stavropoulos
Hae-Young Kee
Yong Baek Kim
author_sort Ilia Khait
collection DOAJ
description Material realizations of the bond-dependent Kitaev interactions with S=1/2 local moments have vitalized the research in quantum spin liquids. Recently, it has been proposed that higher-spin analogs of the Kitaev interactions may also occur in a number of materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. In contrast to the celebrated S=1/2 Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice, the higher-spin Kitaev models are not exactly solvable. Hence, the existence of quantum spin liquids in these systems remains an outstanding question. In this paper, we use the density matrix renormalization group methods to numerically investigate the S=1 Kitaev model with both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions. Using results on quasi-one-dimensional finite-size cylindrical geometries with circumferences of up to six legs, we conclude that the ground state of the S=1 Kitaev model is a quantum spin liquid with a Z_{2} gauge structure. We are also able to put an upper bound on the excitation gap. The magnetic field responses for the FM and AFM models are similar to those of the S=1/2 counterparts. In particular, in the AFM S=1 model, a gapless quantum spin-liquid state emerges in an intermediate window of magnetic field strength, before the system enters a trivial polarized state.
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spelling doaj.art-6034755cb1e2415ab1b5890d7d65d79f2024-04-12T17:07:31ZengAmerican Physical SocietyPhysical Review Research2643-15642021-02-013101316010.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.013160Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquidsIlia KhaitP. Peter StavropoulosHae-Young KeeYong Baek KimMaterial realizations of the bond-dependent Kitaev interactions with S=1/2 local moments have vitalized the research in quantum spin liquids. Recently, it has been proposed that higher-spin analogs of the Kitaev interactions may also occur in a number of materials with strong spin-orbit coupling. In contrast to the celebrated S=1/2 Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice, the higher-spin Kitaev models are not exactly solvable. Hence, the existence of quantum spin liquids in these systems remains an outstanding question. In this paper, we use the density matrix renormalization group methods to numerically investigate the S=1 Kitaev model with both ferromagnetic (FM) and antiferromagnetic (AFM) interactions. Using results on quasi-one-dimensional finite-size cylindrical geometries with circumferences of up to six legs, we conclude that the ground state of the S=1 Kitaev model is a quantum spin liquid with a Z_{2} gauge structure. We are also able to put an upper bound on the excitation gap. The magnetic field responses for the FM and AFM models are similar to those of the S=1/2 counterparts. In particular, in the AFM S=1 model, a gapless quantum spin-liquid state emerges in an intermediate window of magnetic field strength, before the system enters a trivial polarized state.http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.013160
spellingShingle Ilia Khait
P. Peter Stavropoulos
Hae-Young Kee
Yong Baek Kim
Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
Physical Review Research
title Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
title_full Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
title_fullStr Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
title_full_unstemmed Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
title_short Characterizing spin-one Kitaev quantum spin liquids
title_sort characterizing spin one kitaev quantum spin liquids
url http://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevResearch.3.013160
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AT ppeterstavropoulos characterizingspinonekitaevquantumspinliquids
AT haeyoungkee characterizingspinonekitaevquantumspinliquids
AT yongbaekkim characterizingspinonekitaevquantumspinliquids