Triangular Lattice Heisenberg Model Research Articles

On the magnetization of the 120° order of the spin-1/2 triangular lattice Heisenberg model: a DMRG revisited.

We revisit the issue about the magnetization of the 120° order in the spin-1/2 triangular lattice Heisenberg model with density matrix renormalization group (DMRG). The accurate determination of the magnetization of this model is challenging for numerical methods and its value exhibits substantial disparities across various methods. We perform a large-scale DMRG calculation of this model by employing bond dimension as large asD=24000and by studying the system with width as large asLy=12. With careful extrapolation with truncation error and suitable finite size scaling, we give a conservative estimation of the magnetization asM0=0.208(8). The ground state energy per site we obtain isEg=-0.5503(8). Our results provide valuable benchmark values for the development of new methods in the future.

Diluting a triangular-lattice spin liquid: Synthesis and characterization of NaYb1−xLuxS2 single crystals

Yb-based magnets, with a perfect triangular lattice of pseudospin-$\frac{1}{2}\phantom{\rule{4pt}{0ex}}{\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$ ions, have emerged as candidates for realizing a quantum spin-liquid state, with ${\mathrm{NaYbS}}_{2}$ being a prominent example. Here, we present the solid-solution series ${\mathrm{NaYb}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Lu}}_{x}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ with well-defined single crystals over the entire substitution range $0\ensuremath{\le}x\ensuremath{\le}1$. Chemical and structural analysis indicate a statistically homogeneous replacement of ${\mathrm{Yb}}^{3+}$ by ${\mathrm{Lu}}^{3+}$ ions. We magnetically characterize the relatively small single crystals using electron spin resonance (ESR). Below $30\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$, the ESR intensity can be well described by a Curie-Weiss function for all $x$, with a decreasing Weiss temperature with increasing Lu content. This reduction of the average magnetic interaction upon Lu substitution is also supported by magnetization measurements. Importantly, no signs of magnetic or spin-glass order are detected down to $2\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}\mathrm{K}$ for any $x$. For $x>0.5$, the ESR linewidth strongly increases, indicating the breakup of the magnetic system into disconnected clusters, as expected from percolation physics. The experimental magnetization data are found to be in good agreement for all $x$ with results of classical Monte Carlo simulations for a triangular-lattice Heisenberg model, amended with a small second-neighbor interaction. Taken together, our results establish ${\mathrm{NaYb}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Lu}}_{x}{\mathrm{S}}_{2}$ as a family of diluted triangular-lattice spin liquids.

Destruction of long-range order in noncollinear two-dimensional antiferromagnets by random-bond disorder

We consider frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnets, whose clean-limit ground state is characterized by non-collinear long-range order with non-zero vector chirality, and study the effects of quenched bond disorder, i.e., random exchange couplings. A single bond defect is known to induce a dipolar texture in the spin background independent of microscopic details. Using general analytical arguments as well as large-scale simulations for the classical triangular-lattice Heisenberg model, we show that any finite concentration of such defects destroys long-range order for spatial dimension $d\leq 2$, in favor of a glassy state whose correlation length in $d=2$ is exponentially large for small randomness. Our results are relevant for a wide range of layered frustrated magnets.

Multiple- q states of the J1−J2 classical honeycomb-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet under a magnetic field

Motivated by the recent theoretical study by Okubo $et \ al$ [Phys. Rev. Lett. ${\bf 108}$, 017206 (2012)] on the possible realization of the frustration-induced $ symmetric$ skyrmion-lattice state in the $J_1$-$J_2$ (or $J_1$-$J_3$) triangular-lattice Heisenberg model without the Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction, we investigate the ordering of the classical $J_1$-$J_2$ honeycomb-lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet under magnetic fields by means of a Monte Carlo simulation, a mean-field analysis and a low-temperature expansion. The model has been known to have an infinite ring-like degeneracy in the wavevector space in its ground state for $1/6<J_2/J_1<0.5$, in distinction with the triangular-lattice model. As reported by Okumura $et \ al$ [J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. ${\bf 79}$, 114705 (2010)], such a ring-like degeneracy gives rise to exotic spin liquid states in zero field, $e.g$, the "ring-liquid" state and the "pancake-liquid" state. In this paper, we study the in-field ordering properties of the model paying attention to the possible appearance of exotic multiple-$q$ states. Main focus is made on the $J_2/J_1=0.3$ case, where we observe a rich variety of multiple-$q$ states including the single-$q$, double-$q$ and triple-$q$ states. While the skyrmion-lattice triple-$q$ state observed in the triangular-lattice model is not realized, we instead observe an exotic double-$q$ state consisting of meron/antimeron lattice textures.

Dynamical structure factor of the triangular antiferromagnet: Schwinger boson theory beyond mean field

We compute the zero temperature dynamical structure factor $S({\bf q},\omega)$ of the triangular lattice Heisenberg model (TLHM) using a Schwinger boson approach that includes the Gaussian fluctuations ($1/N$ corrections) of the saddle point solution. While the ground state of this model exhibits a well-known 120$^{\circ}$ magnetic ordering, experimental observations have revealed a strong quantum character of the excitation spectrum. We conjecture that this phenomenon arises from the proximity of the ground state of the TLHM to the quantum melting point separating the magnetically ordered and spin liquid states. Within this scenario, magnons are described as collective modes (two spinon-bound states) of a spinon condensate (Higgs phase) that spontaneously breaks the SU(2) symmetry of the TLHM. Crucial to our results is the proper account of this spontaneous symmetry breaking. The main qualitative difference relative to semi-classical treatments ($1/S$ expansion) is the presence of a high-energy spinon continuum extending up to about three times the single-magnon bandwidth. In addition, the magnitude of the ordered moment ($m=0.224$) agrees very well with numerical results and the low energy part of the single-magnon dispersion is in very good agreement with series expansions. Our results indicate that the Schwinger boson approach is an adequate starting point for describing the excitation spectrum of some magnetically ordered compounds that are near the quantum melting point separating this Higgs phase from the {\it deconfined} spin liquid state.

Schwinger-boson mean-field study of the J1−J2 Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet on the triangular lattice

We use Schwinger boson mean field theory (SBMFT) to study the ground state of the spin-$S$ triangular-lattice Heisenberg model with nearest ($J_1$) and next-nearest ($J_2$) neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions. Previous work on the $S=1/2$ model leads us to consider two spin liquid Ans\"{a}tze, one symmetric and one nematic, which upon spinon condensation give magnetically ordered states with 120$^{\circ}$ order and collinear stripe order, respectively. The SBMFT contains the parameter $\kappa$, the expectation value of the number of bosons per site, which in the exact theory equals $2S$. For $\kappa=1$ there is a direct, first-order transition between the ordered states as $J_2/J_1$ increases. Motivated by arguments that in SBMFT, smaller $\kappa$ may be more appropriate for describing the $S=1/2$ case qualitatively, we find that in a $\kappa$ window around 0.6, a region with the (gapped $Z_2$) symmetric spin liquid opens up between the ordered states. As a consequence, the static structure factor has the same peak locations in the spin liquid as in the 120$^{\circ}$ ordered state, and the phase transitions into the 120$^{\circ}$ and collinear stripe ordered states are continuous and first-order, respectively.

Semiclassical theory of the magnetization process of the triangular lattice Heisenberg model

Motivated by the numerous examples of 1/3 magnetization plateaux in the triangular lattice Heisenberg an- tiferromagnet with spins ranging from 1/2 to 5/2, we revisit the semiclassical calculation of the magnetization curve of that model, with the aim of coming up with a simple method that allows one to calculate the full mag- netization curve, and not just the critical fields of the 1/3 plateau. We show that it is actually possible to calculate the magnetization curve including the first quantum corrections and the appearance of the 1/3 plateau entirely within linear spin-wave theory, with predictions for the critical fields that agree to order 1/S with those derived a long-time ago on the basis of arguments that required to go beyond linear spin-wave theory. This calculation relies on the central observation that there is a kink in the semiclassical energy at the field where the classical ground state is the collinear up-up-down structure, and that this kink gives rise to a locally linear behavior of the energy with the field when all semiclassical ground states are compared to each other for all fields. The magnetization curves calculated in this way for spin 1/2, 1 and 5/2 are shown to be in good agreement with available experimental data.

A quantum fidelity study of the anisotropic next-nearest-neighbour triangular lattice Heisenberg model

Ground- and excited-state quantum fidelities in combination with generalized quantum fidelity susceptibilites, obtained from exact diagonalizations, are used to explore the phase diagram of the anisotropic next-nearest-neighbour triangular Heisenberg model. Specifically, the J′ − J2 plane of this model, which connects the J1 − J2 chain and the anisotropic triangular lattice Heisenberg model, is explored using these quantities. Through the use of a quantum fidelity associated with the first excited-state, in addition to the conventional ground-state fidelity, the BKT-type transition and Majumdar–Ghosh point of the J1 − J2 chain (J′ = 0) are found to extend into the J′ − J2 plane and connect with points on the J2 = 0 axis thereby forming bounded regions in the phase diagram. These bounded regions are then explored through the generalized quantum fidelity susceptibilities χρ, , χD and χCAF which are associated with the spin stiffness, 120° spiral order parameter, dimer order parameter and collinear antiferromagnetic order parameter respectively. These quantities are believed to be extremely sensitive to the underlying phase and are thus well suited for finite-size studies. Analysis of the fidelity susceptibilities suggests that the J′, J2 ≪ J phase of the anisotropic triangular model is either a collinear antiferromagnet or possibly a gapless disordered phase that is directly connected to the Luttinger phase of the J1 − J2 chain. Furthermore, the outer region is dominated by incommensurate spiral physics as well as dimer order.

Exact diagonalization study of the anisotropic triangular lattice Heisenberg model using twisted boundary conditions

The spin-$1/2$ anisotropic triangular model, which is believed to describe the materials ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuCl}}_{4}$ and ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuBr}}_{4}$, among others, is dominated by incommensurate spiral physics and is thus extremely resistant to numerical analysis on small system sizes. In this paper, we use twisted boundary conditions and exact diagonalization techniques to study the ground state of this model as a function of exchange parameter strength. With these boundary conditions we are able to extract the inter- and intrachain ordering $q$ vectors for the $\frac{{J}^{\ensuremath{'}}}{J}&lt;1$ region finding very close agreement with recent DMRG results on much larger systems. Our results suggest a phase transition between a long-range incommensurate spiral ordered phase, and a more subtle phase with short-range spiral correlations with the $q$ vector describing the incommensurate correlations varying smoothly through the transition. In the latter phase correlations between next-nearest chains exhibit an extremely close competition between predominantly antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic correlations. Further analysis suggests that the antiferromagnetic next-nearest chain correlations may be slightly stronger than the ferromagnetic ones. This difference is found to be slight but in line with previous renormalization group predictions of a collinear antiferromagnetic ordering in this region.

Theory of a Competitive Spin Liquid State for Weak Mott Insulators on the Triangular Lattice

We propose a novel quantum spin liquid state that can explain many of the intriguing experimental properties of the low-temperature phase of the organic spin liquid candidate materials κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu2(CN)3 and EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2. This state of paired fermionic spinons preserves all symmetries of the system, and it has a gapless excitation spectrum with quadratic bands that touch at momentum k[over →]=0. This quadratic band touching is protected by symmetries. Using variational Monte Carlo techniques, we show that this state has highly competitive energy in the triangular lattice Heisenberg model supplemented with a realistically large ring-exchange term.

Real-space parallel density matrix renormalization group

We demonstrate how to parallelize the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) algorithm in real space through a straightforward modification of serial DMRG. This makes it possible to apply at least an order of magnitude more computational power to challenging simulations, greatly accelerating investigations of two-dimensional systems and large parameter spaces. We discuss details of the algorithm and present benchmark results including a study of valence-bond-solid order within the square-lattice Q2 model and Neel order within the triangular lattice Heisenberg model. The parallel DMRG algorithm also motivates an alternative canonical form for matrix product states.

Fractional Impurity Moments in Two-Dimensional Noncollinear Magnets

We study dilute magnetic impurities and vacancies in two-dimensional frustrated magnets with noncollinear order. Taking the triangular-lattice Heisenberg model as an example, we use quasiclassical methods to determine the impurity contributions to the magnetization and susceptibility. Most importantly, each impurity moment is not quantized but receives nonuniversal screening corrections due to local relief of frustration. At finite temperatures, where bulk long-range order is absent, this implies an impurity-induced magnetic response of Curie form, with a prefactor corresponding to a fractional moment per impurity. We also discuss the behavior in an applied magnetic field, where we find a singular linear-response limit for overcompensated impurities.

Spin Bose-metal phase in a spin-12model with ring exchange on a two-leg triangular strip

Recent experiments on triangular lattice organic Mott insulators have found evidence for a two-dimensional (2D) spin liquid in close proximity to the metal-insulator transition. A Gutzwiller wave function study of the triangular lattice Heisenberg model with a four-spin ring exchange term appropriate in this regime has found that the projected spinon Fermi sea state has a low variational energy. This wave function, together with a slave particle-gauge theory analysis, suggests that this putative spin liquid possesses spin correlations that are singular along surfaces in momentum space, i.e., ``Bose surfaces.'' Signatures of this state, which we will refer to as a ``spin Bose metal'' (SBM), are expected to manifest in quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) ladder systems: the discrete transverse momenta cut through the 2D Bose surface leading to a distinct pattern of 1D gapless modes. Here, we search for a quasi-1D descendant of the triangular lattice SBM state by exploring the Heisenberg plus ring model on a two-leg triangular strip (zigzag chain). Using density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) supplemented by variational wave functions and a bosonization analysis, we map out the full phase diagram. In the absence of ring exchange the model is equivalent to the ${J}_{1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}$ Heisenberg chain, and we find the expected Bethe-chain and dimerized phases. Remarkably, moderate ring exchange reveals a new gapless phase over a large swath of the phase diagram. Spin and dimer correlations possess singular wave vectors at particular ``Bose points'' (remnants of the 2D Bose surface) and allow us to identify this phase as the hoped for quasi-1D descendant of the triangular lattice SBM state. We use bosonization to derive a low-energy effective theory for the zigzag spin Bose metal and find three gapless modes and one Luttinger parameter controlling all power law correlations. Potential instabilities out of the zigzag SBM give rise to other interesting phases such as a period-3 valence bond solid or a period-4 chirality order, which we discover in the DMRG. Another interesting instability is into a spin Bose-metal phase with partial ferromagnetism (spin polarization of one spinon band), which we also find numerically using the DMRG.

Spin liquid state in an organic Mott insulator with a triangular lattice.

1H NMR and static susceptibility measurements have been performed in an organic Mott insulator with a nearly isotropic triangular lattice, kappa-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu2(CN)(3), which is a model system of frustrated quantum spins. The static susceptibility is described by the spin S=1/2 antiferromagnetic triangular-lattice Heisenberg model with the exchange constant J approximately 250 K. Regardless of the large magnetic interactions, the 1H NMR spectra show no indication of long-range magnetic ordering down to 32 mK, which is 4 orders of magnitude smaller than J. These results suggest that a quantum spin liquid state is realized in the close proximity of the superconducting state appearing under pressure.

Phase diagram for a class of spin-12Heisenberg models interpolating between the square-lattice, the triangular-lattice, and the linear-chain limits

We study the spin-half Heisenberg models on an anisotropic two-dimensional lattice which interpolates between the square-lattice at one end, a set of decoupled spin-chains on the other end, and the triangular-lattice Heisenberg model in between. By series expansions around two different dimer ground states and around various commensurate and incommensurate magnetically ordered states, we establish the phase diagram for this model of a frustrated antiferromagnet. We find a particularly rich phase diagram due to the interplay of magnetic frustration, quantum fluctuations and varying dimensionality. There is a large region of the usual 2-sublattice Ne\'el phase, a 3-sublattice phase for the triangular-lattice model, a region of incommensurate magnetic order around the triangular-lattice model, and regions in parameter space where there is no magnetic order. We find that the incommensurate ordering wavevector is in general altered from its classical value by quantum fluctuations. The regime of weakly coupled chains is particularly interesting and appears to be nearly critical.