Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Preprint |
| Published: |
2026
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://arxiv.org/abs/2605.02336 |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
Table of Contents:
- We study the quadrupolar Kitaev model, an $S=1$ honeycomb-lattice model with frustrated bond-dependent quadrupolar interactions. Using complementary methods and expanding around controlled limits, we uncover several intertwined structures. First, a semiclassical variational analysis based on $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ flavor theory reveals an extensively degenerate manifold of classical mean-field ground states, suggesting that quantum fluctuations may stabilize a quantum-disordered phase. Second, in the bond-anisotropic limit, perturbation theory is used to derive effective low-energy Hamiltonians, which crucially depend on the presence (or absence) of a residual symmetry $\mathcal{M}$ of combined lattice reflection and discrete spin rotation. A Majorana parton construction uncovers an exact $\mathbb Z_2$ gauge structure and motivates possible confined and deconfined phases driven by gauge-charge condensation, consistent with the effective theories obtained in anisotropic limit. Further, within the same parton formalism, different Majorana mean-field ansätze produce both gapless and gapped candidate quantum-disordered states, distinguished by linear versus projective implementations of $\mathcal M$. Our results highlight frustrated quadrupolar interactions as a route to quantum-disordered phases, relevant to $S \geq 1$ Kitaev materials and Rydberg-array quantum simulators.