Quantum Spin Ice with Frustrated Transverse Exchange: From a π-Flux Phase to a Nematic Quantum Spin Liquid

Owen Benton (1) , L.D.C. Jaubert (2) , Rajiv Singh (3) , Jaan Oitmaa (4) , Nic Shannon (5)

1 RIKEN - Condensed Matter Theory Laboratory RIKEN
2 LOMA - Laboratoire Ondes et Matière d'Aquitaine
3 UC Davis - University of California [Davis]
4 UNSW - University of New South Wales [Sydney]
5 Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology

Quantum spin ice materials, pyrochlore magnets with competing Ising and transverse exchange interactions, have been widely discussed as candidates for a quantum spin-liquid ground state. Here, motivated by quantum chemical calculations for Pr pyrochlores, we present the results of a study for frustrated transverse exchange. Using a combination of variational calculations, exact diagonalization, numerical linked-cluster and series expansions, we find that the previously studied U(1) quantum spin liquid, in its π-flux phase, transforms into a nematic quantum spin liquid at a high–symmetry, SU(2) point.

Domaines: Mécanique statistique [cond-mat.stat-mech]; Electrons fortement corrélés [cond-mat.str-el]

Owen Benton, L.D.C. Jaubert, Rajiv Singh, Jaan Oitmaa, Nic Shannon. Quantum Spin Ice with Frustrated Transverse Exchange: From a π-Flux Phase to a Nematic Quantum Spin Liquid. Physical Review Letters, 2018, 121, pp.067201. ⟨10.1103/PhysRevLett.121.067201⟩. ⟨hal-01718709⟩