Square-Lattice Algebraic Spin Liquid with SO(5) Symmetry

Abstract

We propose a critical spin liquid ground state for S=1/2 antiferromagnets on the square lattice. In a renormalization group analysis of the "staggered flux" algebraic spin liquid, we examine perturbations, present in the antiferromagnet, which break its global SU(4) symmetry to SO(5). At physical parameter values, we find an instability towards a fixed point with SO(5) symmetry. We discuss the possibility that this fixed point describes a transition between the Néel and valence bond solid states, and the relationship to the SO(5) nonlinear sigma model of Tanaka and Hu.