The spin-orbital Kitaev model: from kagome spin ice to classical fractons

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Main Authors: Fontana, Weslei B., Oliviero, Fabrizio G., Pereira, Rodrigo G., Natori, Willian M. H.
Format: Preprint
Published: 2025
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author Fontana, Weslei B.
Oliviero, Fabrizio G.
Pereira, Rodrigo G.
Natori, Willian M. H.
author_facet Fontana, Weslei B.
Oliviero, Fabrizio G.
Pereira, Rodrigo G.
Natori, Willian M. H.
contents We study an exactly solvable spin-orbital model that can be regarded as a classical analogue of the celebrated Kitaev honeycomb model and describes interactions between Rydberg atoms on the ruby lattice. We leverage its local and nonlocal symmetries to determine the exact partition function and the static structure factor. A mapping between $S=3/2$ models on the honeycomb lattice and kagome spin Hamiltonians allows us to interpret the thermodynamic properties in terms of a classical kagome spin ice. Partially lifting the symmetries associated with line operators, we obtain a model characterized by immobile excitations, called classical fractons, and a ground state degeneracy that increases exponentially with the length of the system. We formulate a continuum theory that reveals the underlying gauge structure and conserved charges. Extensions of our theory to other lattices and higher-spin systems are suggested.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2501_16898
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle The spin-orbital Kitaev model: from kagome spin ice to classical fractons
Fontana, Weslei B.
Oliviero, Fabrizio G.
Pereira, Rodrigo G.
Natori, Willian M. H.
Strongly Correlated Electrons
We study an exactly solvable spin-orbital model that can be regarded as a classical analogue of the celebrated Kitaev honeycomb model and describes interactions between Rydberg atoms on the ruby lattice. We leverage its local and nonlocal symmetries to determine the exact partition function and the static structure factor. A mapping between $S=3/2$ models on the honeycomb lattice and kagome spin Hamiltonians allows us to interpret the thermodynamic properties in terms of a classical kagome spin ice. Partially lifting the symmetries associated with line operators, we obtain a model characterized by immobile excitations, called classical fractons, and a ground state degeneracy that increases exponentially with the length of the system. We formulate a continuum theory that reveals the underlying gauge structure and conserved charges. Extensions of our theory to other lattices and higher-spin systems are suggested.
title The spin-orbital Kitaev model: from kagome spin ice to classical fractons
topic Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2501.16898