Exact eigenvalues and experimental signatures of Heisenberg-Kitaev interactions in spin-1/2 quantum clusters

Fuente: arXiv
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Auteurs principaux: Wilson, Evan M., Zhu, Jian-Xin, Haraldsen, Jason T.
Format: Preprint
Publié: 2025
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author Wilson, Evan M.
Zhu, Jian-Xin
Haraldsen, Jason T.
author_facet Wilson, Evan M.
Zhu, Jian-Xin
Haraldsen, Jason T.
contents We investigate the thermodynamics and energy eigenstates of a spin-1/2 coupled trimer, tetramer in a star configuration, and tetrahedron. Using a Heisenberg Hamiltonian with additional Kitaev interactions, we explore the thermodynamic signatures of the Kitaev interaction. Our results show that introducing a Kitaev interaction generates a second Schottky anomaly in the heat capacity for systems with a large K/J ratio. The Kitaev term also introduces nonlinear eigenvalues with respect to a magnetic field, pushing the clusters toward a regime similar to the incomplete Paschen-Back effect and triggering first and second-order quantum phase transitions along with robust thermodynamic behavior. Through this approach, we provide exact analytical solutions that offer insights into Kitaev interactions, both in molecular magnets and in extended systems such as honeycomb or Kagome lattices. Furthermore, we provide insight into experimental measurements for detecting Kitaev interactions in clusters.
format Preprint
id arxiv_https___arxiv_org_abs_2506_06967
institution arXiv
publishDate 2025
record_format arxiv
spellingShingle Exact eigenvalues and experimental signatures of Heisenberg-Kitaev interactions in spin-1/2 quantum clusters
Wilson, Evan M.
Zhu, Jian-Xin
Haraldsen, Jason T.
Materials Science
Statistical Mechanics
Strongly Correlated Electrons
We investigate the thermodynamics and energy eigenstates of a spin-1/2 coupled trimer, tetramer in a star configuration, and tetrahedron. Using a Heisenberg Hamiltonian with additional Kitaev interactions, we explore the thermodynamic signatures of the Kitaev interaction. Our results show that introducing a Kitaev interaction generates a second Schottky anomaly in the heat capacity for systems with a large K/J ratio. The Kitaev term also introduces nonlinear eigenvalues with respect to a magnetic field, pushing the clusters toward a regime similar to the incomplete Paschen-Back effect and triggering first and second-order quantum phase transitions along with robust thermodynamic behavior. Through this approach, we provide exact analytical solutions that offer insights into Kitaev interactions, both in molecular magnets and in extended systems such as honeycomb or Kagome lattices. Furthermore, we provide insight into experimental measurements for detecting Kitaev interactions in clusters.
title Exact eigenvalues and experimental signatures of Heisenberg-Kitaev interactions in spin-1/2 quantum clusters
topic Materials Science
Statistical Mechanics
Strongly Correlated Electrons
url https://arxiv.org/abs/2506.06967