Chiral spin liquid in a generalized Kitaev honeycomb model with $\mathbb{Z}_4$ 1-form symmetry

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Hauptverfasser: Yang, Yu-Xin, Cheng, Meng, Chen, Ji-Yao
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Veröffentlicht: 2024
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author Yang, Yu-Xin
Cheng, Meng
Chen, Ji-Yao
author_facet Yang, Yu-Xin
Cheng, Meng
Chen, Ji-Yao
contents We explore a large $N$ generalization of the Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice with a simple nearest-neighbor interacting Hamiltonian. In particular, we focus on the $\mathbb{Z}_4$ case with isotropic couplings, which is characterized by an exact $\mathbb{Z}_4$ one-form symmetry. Guided by symmetry considerations and an analytical study in the single chain limit, on the infinitely long cylinders, we find the model is gapped with an extremely short correlation length. Combined with the $\mathbb{Z}_4$ one-form symmetry, this suggests the model is topologically ordered. To pin down the nature of this phase, we further study the model on both finite and infinitely long strips, where we consistently find a $c=1$ conformal field theory (CFT) description, suggesting the existence of chiral edge modes described by a free boson CFT. Further evidence is found by studying the dimer correlators on infinitely long strips. We find the dimer correlation functions show a power-law decay with the exponent close to 2 on the boundary of the strip, while decay much faster in the bulk. Combined with the topological entanglement entropy extracted from cylinder geometry, we identify the spin liquid is chiral and supports a $\mathrm{U}(1)_{-8}$ chiral topological order. A unified perspective for all $\mathbb{Z}_N$ type Kitaev models is also discussed.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2408_02046
institution arXiv
publishDate 2024
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Chiral spin liquid in a generalized Kitaev honeycomb model with $\mathbb{Z}_4$ 1-form symmetry
Yang, Yu-Xin
Cheng, Meng
Chen, Ji-Yao
Strongly Correlated Electrons
Quantum Physics
We explore a large $N$ generalization of the Kitaev model on the honeycomb lattice with a simple nearest-neighbor interacting Hamiltonian. In particular, we focus on the $\mathbb{Z}_4$ case with isotropic couplings, which is characterized by an exact $\mathbb{Z}_4$ one-form symmetry. Guided by symmetry considerations and an analytical study in the single chain limit, on the infinitely long cylinders, we find the model is gapped with an extremely short correlation length. Combined with the $\mathbb{Z}_4$ one-form symmetry, this suggests the model is topologically ordered. To pin down the nature of this phase, we further study the model on both finite and infinitely long strips, where we consistently find a $c=1$ conformal field theory (CFT) description, suggesting the existence of chiral edge modes described by a free boson CFT. Further evidence is found by studying the dimer correlators on infinitely long strips. We find the dimer correlation functions show a power-law decay with the exponent close to 2 on the boundary of the strip, while decay much faster in the bulk. Combined with the topological entanglement entropy extracted from cylinder geometry, we identify the spin liquid is chiral and supports a $\mathrm{U}(1)_{-8}$ chiral topological order. A unified perspective for all $\mathbb{Z}_N$ type Kitaev models is also discussed.
title Chiral spin liquid in a generalized Kitaev honeycomb model with $\mathbb{Z}_4$ 1-form symmetry
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
Quantum Physics
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2408.02046