Hidden SU(2) symmetries, the symmetry hierarchy, and the emergent eightfold way in spin-1 quantum magnets

Abstract

The largest allowed symmetry in a spin-1 quantum system is an $SU(3)$ symmetry rather than the $SO(3)$ spin rotation. In this work, we reveal some $SU(2)$ symmetries as subgroups of $SU(3)$ that, to the best of our knowledge, have not previously been recognized. Then, we construct $SU(2)$ symmetric Hamiltonians and explore the ground-state phase diagram in accordance with the $SU(3)\supset SU(2)\times U(1)$ symmetry hierarchy. It is natural to treat the eight generators of the $SU(3)$ symmetry on an equal footing; this approach is called the eight-fold way. We find that the spin spectral functions and spin quadrupole spectral functions share the same structure, provided that the elementary excitations are flavor waves at low energies, which serves as a clue to the eight-fold way. An emergent $S=1/2$ quantum spin liquid is proposed to coexist with gapful spin nematic order in one of the ground states. In analogy to quantum chromodynamics, we find the gap relation for hydrodynamic modes in quantum spin-orbital liquid states, which is nothing but the Gell-Mann-Okubo formula.