Deconfined quantum critical point on the triangular lattice

Abstract

We first propose a topological term that captures the "intertwinement" between the standard "$\sqrt{3} \times \sqrt{3}$" antiferromagnetic order (or the so-called 120$^\circ$ state) and the "$\sqrt{12}\times \sqrt{12}$" valence solid bond (VBS) order for spin-1/2 systems on a triangular lattice. Then using a controlled renormalization group calculation, we demonstrate that there exists an unfine-tuned direct continuous deconfined quantum critical point (dQCP) between the two ordered phases mentioned above. This dQCP is described by the $N_f = 4$ quantum electrodynamics (QED) with an emergent PSU(4)=SU(4)/$Z_4$ symmetry only at the critical point. The topological term aforementioned is also naturally derived from the $N_f = 4 $ QED. We also point out that physics around this dQCP is analogous to the boundary of a $3d$ bosonic symmetry protected topological state with on-site symmetries only.