The highly frustrated spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg model with both nearest (J(1)) and next-nearest (J(2)) neighbor exchange interactions is revisited by using an extended variational space of projected wave functions that are optimized with state-of-the-art methods. Competition between modulated valence-bond crystals (VBCs) proposed in the literature and the Dirac spin liquid (DSL) is investigated. We find that the addition of a small ferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor exchange coupling vertical bar J(2)vertical bar > 0.09J(1) leads to stabilization of a 36-site unit cell VBC, although the DSL remains a local minimum of the variational parameter landscape. This implies that the VBC is not trivially connected to the DSL; instead it possesses a nontrivial flux pattern and large dimerization.

Valence-bond crystal in the extended kagome spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet: A variational Monte Carlo approach / Iqbal, Y; Becca, Federico; Poilblanc, D.. - In: PHYSICAL REVIEW. B, RAPID COMMUNICATIONS. - ISSN 1082-586X. - 83:10(2011). [10.1103/PhysRevB.83.100404]

Valence-bond crystal in the extended kagome spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet: A variational Monte Carlo approach

Becca, Federico;
2011-01-01

Abstract

The highly frustrated spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg model with both nearest (J(1)) and next-nearest (J(2)) neighbor exchange interactions is revisited by using an extended variational space of projected wave functions that are optimized with state-of-the-art methods. Competition between modulated valence-bond crystals (VBCs) proposed in the literature and the Dirac spin liquid (DSL) is investigated. We find that the addition of a small ferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor exchange coupling vertical bar J(2)vertical bar > 0.09J(1) leads to stabilization of a 36-site unit cell VBC, although the DSL remains a local minimum of the variational parameter landscape. This implies that the VBC is not trivially connected to the DSL; instead it possesses a nontrivial flux pattern and large dimerization.
2011
83
10
100404
http://link.aps.org/doi/10.1103/PhysRevB.83.100404
Iqbal, Y; Becca, Federico; Poilblanc, D.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11767/32709
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