Ground states and dynamical properties of the S>1/2 quantum Heisenberg model on the 1/5-depleted square lattice

Abstract

We study the $S>1/2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the 1/5-depleted square lattice as a function of the ratio of the intraplaquette coupling to the interplaquette coupling. Using stochastic series expansion quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we numerically identify three quantum phases, including the dimer phase, N\'eel phase, and plaquette valence-bond-solid phase. We also obtain the accurate quantum critical points that belong to the $O$(3) universality class using the large-scale finite-size scaling. Most importantly, we study the dynamic spin structure factors of different phases, which can be measured by inelastic neutron scattering experiments. The low-energy excitations can be explained as triplons in the dimer phase and plaquette valence-bond-solid phase, while in the N\'eel phase, the more prominent magnon mode can be found as the spin magnitude increases. Furthermore, we find a broader continuum at smaller $S$, which may be the dynamical signature of nearly deconfined spinon excitations.