Some experimental schemes to identify quantum spin liquids**Project supported by the National Key R&D Program of China (Grant Nos. 2016YFA0301001, 2018YFGH000095, and 2016YFA0300500), Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology Major Project, China (Grant No. 2019SHZDZX04), and the Research Grants Council of Hong Kong with General Research Fund, China (Grant No. 17303819).

Abstract

Despite the apparent ubiquity and variety of quantum spin liquids in theory, experimental confirmation of spin liquids remains to be a huge challenge. Motivated by the recent surge of evidences for spin liquids in a series of candidate materials, we highlight the experimental schemes, involving the thermal Hall transport and spectrum measurements, that can result in smoking-gun signatures of spin liquids beyond the usual ones. For clarity, we investigate the square lattice spin liquids and theoretically predict the possible phenomena that may emerge in the corresponding spin liquids candidates. The mechanisms for these signatures can be traced back to either the intrinsic characters of spin liquids or the external field-driven behaviors. Our conclusion does not depend on the geometry of lattices and can broadly apply to other relevant spin liquids.