Quantum spin liquids(QSLs) represent a novel state of matter in which quantum fluctuations prevent the conventional magnetic order from being established, and the spins remain disordered even at zero temperature. Th...Quantum spin liquids(QSLs) represent a novel state of matter in which quantum fluctuations prevent the conventional magnetic order from being established, and the spins remain disordered even at zero temperature. There have been many theoretical developments proposing various QSL states. On the other hand, experimental movement was relatively slow largely due to limitations on the candidate materials and difficulties in the measurements. In recent years, the experimental progress has been accelerated. In this topical review, we give a brief summary of experiments on the QSL candidates under magnetic fields. We arrange our discussions by two categories: i) Geometrically-frustrated systems, including triangularlattice compounds YbMgGaO4 and YbZnGaO4, κ-(BEDT-TTF)2 Cu2(CN)3, and EtMe3 Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2, and the kagom′e system ZnCu3(OH)6 Cl2; ii) the Kitaev material α-RuCl3. Among these, we will pay special attention to α-RuCl3, which has been intensively studied by ours and other groups recently. We will present evidence that both supports and rejects the QSL ground state for these materials, based on which we give several perspectives to stimulate further research activities.展开更多
Subject Code:A04With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,the research team led by Prof.Zhao Jun(赵俊)and Prof.Chen Gang(陈钢)at the State...Subject Code:A04With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,the research team led by Prof.Zhao Jun(赵俊)and Prof.Chen Gang(陈钢)at the State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics,Fudan University,found evidence for aquantum spin liquid state with a spinon Fermi surface in YbMgGaO_4,which was published in Nature(2016,540:559—562);see also'News and Views'Nature(2016,540:534—535).展开更多
We study the ground state of an S=1/2 anisotropic a (≡Jz/Jxy) Heisenberg antiferromagnet with nearest (J1) and next-nearest (J2) neighbor exchange interactions on a triangular lattice using the exact diagonalization ...We study the ground state of an S=1/2 anisotropic a (≡Jz/Jxy) Heisenberg antiferromagnet with nearest (J1) and next-nearest (J2) neighbor exchange interactions on a triangular lattice using the exact diagonalization method. We obtain the energy, squared sublattice magnetizations, and their Binder ratios on finite lattices with N≤36 sites. We estimate the threshold J(t) 2 (a)?between the three-sublattice Néel state and the spin liquid (SL) state, and J(s) 2 (a)? between the stripe state and the SL state. The SL state exists over a wide range in the α-J2 plane. For α>1 , the xy component of the magnetization is destroyed by quantum fluctuations, and the classical distorted 120°structure is replaced by the collinear state.展开更多
The discovery of ideal spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnets Herbertsmithite and Zn-doped Barlowite represents a breakthrough in the quest for quantum spin liquids(QSLs),and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy play...The discovery of ideal spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnets Herbertsmithite and Zn-doped Barlowite represents a breakthrough in the quest for quantum spin liquids(QSLs),and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy plays a prominent role in revealing the quantum paramagnetism in these compounds.However,interpretation of NMR data that is often masked by defects can be controversial.Here,we show that the most significant interaction strength for NMR,i.e.the hyperfine coupling(HFC)strength,can be reasonably reproduced by first-principles calculations for these proposed QSLs.Applying this method to a supercell containing Cu-Zn defects enables us to map out the variation and distribution of HFC at different nuclear sites.This predictive power is expected to bridge the missing link in the analysis of the low-temperature NMR data.展开更多
We construct a class of exactly solvable generalized Kitaev spin-1/2 models in arbitrary dimensions, which is beyond the category of quantum compass models. The Jordan-Wigner transformation is employed to prove the ex...We construct a class of exactly solvable generalized Kitaev spin-1/2 models in arbitrary dimensions, which is beyond the category of quantum compass models. The Jordan-Wigner transformation is employed to prove the exact solvability. An exactly solvable quantum spin-1/2 model can be mapped to a gas of free Majorana fermions coupled to static Z2 gauge fields. We classify these exactly solvable models according to their parent models. Any model belonging to this class can be generated by one of the parent models. For illustration, a two dimensional(2D) tetragon-octagon model and a three dimensional(3D) xy bond model are studied.展开更多
Quantum fluctuations from frustration can trigger quantum spin liquids(QSLs) at zero temperature.However, it is unclear how thermal fluctuations affect a QSL. We employ state-of-the-art tensor network-based methods to...Quantum fluctuations from frustration can trigger quantum spin liquids(QSLs) at zero temperature.However, it is unclear how thermal fluctuations affect a QSL. We employ state-of-the-art tensor network-based methods to explore the ground state and thermodynamic properties of the spin-1=2 kagomé Heisenberg antiferromagnet(KHA). Its ground state is shown to be consistent with a gapless QSL by observing the absence of zero-magnetization plateau as well as the algebraic behaviors of susceptibility and specific heat at low temperatures, respectively. We show that there exists an algebraic paramagnetic liquid(APL) that possesses both the paramagnetic properties and the algebraic behaviors inherited from the QSL. The APL is induced under the interplay between quantum fluctuations from geometrical frustration and thermal fluctuations. By studying the temperature-dependent behaviors of specific heat and magnetic susceptibility, a finite-temperature phase diagram in a magnetic field is suggested, where various phases are identified. This present study gains useful insight into the thermodynamic properties of the spin-1/2 KHA with or without a magnetic field and is helpful for relevant experimental studies.展开更多
The aim of this review paper is to expose a new state of matter exhibited by strongly correlated Fermi systems represented by various heavy-fermion (HF) metals, two-dimensional liquids like 3He, compounds with quant...The aim of this review paper is to expose a new state of matter exhibited by strongly correlated Fermi systems represented by various heavy-fermion (HF) metals, two-dimensional liquids like 3He, compounds with quantum spin liquids, quasicrystals, and systems with one-dimensional quantum spin liquid. We name these various systems HF compounds, since they exhibit the behavior typical of HF metals. In HF compounds at zero temperature the unique phase transition, dubbed throughout as the fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT) can occur; this FCQPT creates flat bands which in turn lead to the specific state, known as the fermion condensate. Unlimited increase of the effective mass of quasiparticles signifies FCQPT; these quasiparticles determine the thermodynamic, transport and relaxation properties of HF compounds. Our discussion of numerous salient experimen- tal data within the framework of FCQPT resolves the mystery of the new state of matter. Thus, FCQPT and the fermion condensation can be considered as the universal reason for the non-Fermi liquid behavior observed in various HF compounds. We show analytically and using arguments based completely on the experimental grounds that these systems exhibit universal scaling behavior of their thermodynamic, transport and relaxation properties. Therefore, the quantum physics of different HF compounds is universal, and emerges regardless of the microscopic structure of the compounds. This uniform behavior allows us to view it as the main characteristic of a new state of matter exhibited by HF compounds.展开更多
基金Project supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.11674157 and 11822405)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(Grant No.020414380105)
文摘Quantum spin liquids(QSLs) represent a novel state of matter in which quantum fluctuations prevent the conventional magnetic order from being established, and the spins remain disordered even at zero temperature. There have been many theoretical developments proposing various QSL states. On the other hand, experimental movement was relatively slow largely due to limitations on the candidate materials and difficulties in the measurements. In recent years, the experimental progress has been accelerated. In this topical review, we give a brief summary of experiments on the QSL candidates under magnetic fields. We arrange our discussions by two categories: i) Geometrically-frustrated systems, including triangularlattice compounds YbMgGaO4 and YbZnGaO4, κ-(BEDT-TTF)2 Cu2(CN)3, and EtMe3 Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2, and the kagom′e system ZnCu3(OH)6 Cl2; ii) the Kitaev material α-RuCl3. Among these, we will pay special attention to α-RuCl3, which has been intensively studied by ours and other groups recently. We will present evidence that both supports and rejects the QSL ground state for these materials, based on which we give several perspectives to stimulate further research activities.
文摘Subject Code:A04With the support by the National Natural Science Foundation of China and the Ministry of Science and Technology of China,the research team led by Prof.Zhao Jun(赵俊)and Prof.Chen Gang(陈钢)at the State Key Laboratory of Surface Physics and Department of Physics,Fudan University,found evidence for aquantum spin liquid state with a spinon Fermi surface in YbMgGaO_4,which was published in Nature(2016,540:559—562);see also'News and Views'Nature(2016,540:534—535).
基金supported by National Key Projects for Research and Development of China with Grant No. 2021YFA1400400the National Natural Science Foundation of China with Grants No. 12225407 and 12074174+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation with Grants No. 2022M711569 and 2022T150315Jiangsu Province Excellent Postdoctoral Program with Grant No. 20220ZB5Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
基金supported by the National Key Research and Development Program of China Nos.2016YFA0300503the National Natural Science Foundation of China No.11774061the Shanghai Municipal Science and Technology(Major Project Grant No.2019SHZDZX01 and No.20ZR1405300).
基金supported by National Key Projects for Research and Development of China with Grant No. 2021YFA1400400the National Natural Science Foundation of China with Grants No. 12225407 and 12074174+2 种基金China Postdoctoral Science Foundation with Grants No. 2022M711569 and 2022T150315Jiangsu Province Excellent Postdoctoral Program with Grant No. 20220ZB5Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities
文摘We study the ground state of an S=1/2 anisotropic a (≡Jz/Jxy) Heisenberg antiferromagnet with nearest (J1) and next-nearest (J2) neighbor exchange interactions on a triangular lattice using the exact diagonalization method. We obtain the energy, squared sublattice magnetizations, and their Binder ratios on finite lattices with N≤36 sites. We estimate the threshold J(t) 2 (a)?between the three-sublattice Néel state and the spin liquid (SL) state, and J(s) 2 (a)? between the stripe state and the SL state. The SL state exists over a wide range in the α-J2 plane. For α>1 , the xy component of the magnetization is destroyed by quantum fluctuations, and the classical distorted 120°structure is replaced by the collinear state.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(11774196)Tsinghua University Initiative Scientific Research Program+5 种基金supported by the National Postdoctoral Program for Innovative Talents of China(BX201600091)the Funding from China Postdoctoral Science Foundation(2017M610858)the support from US-DOE(DEFG02-04ER46148)supported by National Key Research and Development Program of China(2016YFA0300202)National Natural Science Foundation of China(11774306)the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB28000000)
文摘The discovery of ideal spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnets Herbertsmithite and Zn-doped Barlowite represents a breakthrough in the quest for quantum spin liquids(QSLs),and nuclear magnetic resonance(NMR)spectroscopy plays a prominent role in revealing the quantum paramagnetism in these compounds.However,interpretation of NMR data that is often masked by defects can be controversial.Here,we show that the most significant interaction strength for NMR,i.e.the hyperfine coupling(HFC)strength,can be reasonably reproduced by first-principles calculations for these proposed QSLs.Applying this method to a supercell containing Cu-Zn defects enables us to map out the variation and distribution of HFC at different nuclear sites.This predictive power is expected to bridge the missing link in the analysis of the low-temperature NMR data.
基金the China Postdoctoral Science Foundation of China(Grant No.2017M620880)the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.1184700424)+7 种基金the National Key Research and Development Program of China(Grant No.2016YFA0300202)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2014CB921201)the National Natural Science Foundation of Chino(Grant No.11774306)the Key Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences(Grant No.XDPB08-4)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities in Chinathe National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant No.11674278)the National Basic Research Program of China(Grant No.2014CB921203)the CAS Center for Excellence in Topological Quantum Computation.
文摘We construct a class of exactly solvable generalized Kitaev spin-1/2 models in arbitrary dimensions, which is beyond the category of quantum compass models. The Jordan-Wigner transformation is employed to prove the exact solvability. An exactly solvable quantum spin-1/2 model can be mapped to a gas of free Majorana fermions coupled to static Z2 gauge fields. We classify these exactly solvable models according to their parent models. Any model belonging to this class can be generated by one of the parent models. For illustration, a two dimensional(2D) tetragon-octagon model and a three dimensional(3D) xy bond model are studied.
基金supported in part by the National Key R&D Program of China (2018YFA0305800)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (14474279 and 11834014)+5 种基金and the Strategic Priority Research Program of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (XDB28000000 and XDB07010100)SJR was supported by ERC AdG OSYRIS (ERC-2013-AdG Grant No. 339106)Spanish Ministry MINECO (National Plan 15 Grant: FISICATEAMO No. FIS201679508-P, SEVERO OCHOA No. SEV-2015-0522)Generalitat de Catalunya (AGAUR Grant No. 2017 SGR 1341 and CERCA/Program)Fundació Privada Cellex, EU FETPRO QUIC (H2020-FETPROACT2014 No. 641122)the National Science Centre, and PolandSymfonia Grant No. 2016/20/W/ST4/00314
文摘Quantum fluctuations from frustration can trigger quantum spin liquids(QSLs) at zero temperature.However, it is unclear how thermal fluctuations affect a QSL. We employ state-of-the-art tensor network-based methods to explore the ground state and thermodynamic properties of the spin-1=2 kagomé Heisenberg antiferromagnet(KHA). Its ground state is shown to be consistent with a gapless QSL by observing the absence of zero-magnetization plateau as well as the algebraic behaviors of susceptibility and specific heat at low temperatures, respectively. We show that there exists an algebraic paramagnetic liquid(APL) that possesses both the paramagnetic properties and the algebraic behaviors inherited from the QSL. The APL is induced under the interplay between quantum fluctuations from geometrical frustration and thermal fluctuations. By studying the temperature-dependent behaviors of specific heat and magnetic susceptibility, a finite-temperature phase diagram in a magnetic field is suggested, where various phases are identified. This present study gains useful insight into the thermodynamic properties of the spin-1/2 KHA with or without a magnetic field and is helpful for relevant experimental studies.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(12034004 and 11774306)the K.C.Wong Education Foundation(GJTD2020–01)+3 种基金the Strategic Priority Research Program of Chinese Academy of Sciences(XDB28000000)funded by the European Research Council(ERC)under the European Unions Horizon 2020 Research and Innovation Program(771537)supported by the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft through project A06 of SFB 1143(247310070)The numerical simulations in this work are based on the GraceQ project(www.gracequantum.org)。
基金Acknowledgements V.R. Shaginyan is supported by the Russian Science Foundation, Grant No. 14-22-00281. A. Z. Msezane thanks the US DOE, Division of Chemical Sciences, Office of Energy Research, and ARO for research support. K. G. Popov is partly supported by RFBR # 14-02-00044. V. A. Khodel thanks the McDonnell Center for the Space Sciences for support.
文摘The aim of this review paper is to expose a new state of matter exhibited by strongly correlated Fermi systems represented by various heavy-fermion (HF) metals, two-dimensional liquids like 3He, compounds with quantum spin liquids, quasicrystals, and systems with one-dimensional quantum spin liquid. We name these various systems HF compounds, since they exhibit the behavior typical of HF metals. In HF compounds at zero temperature the unique phase transition, dubbed throughout as the fermion condensation quantum phase transition (FCQPT) can occur; this FCQPT creates flat bands which in turn lead to the specific state, known as the fermion condensate. Unlimited increase of the effective mass of quasiparticles signifies FCQPT; these quasiparticles determine the thermodynamic, transport and relaxation properties of HF compounds. Our discussion of numerous salient experimen- tal data within the framework of FCQPT resolves the mystery of the new state of matter. Thus, FCQPT and the fermion condensation can be considered as the universal reason for the non-Fermi liquid behavior observed in various HF compounds. We show analytically and using arguments based completely on the experimental grounds that these systems exhibit universal scaling behavior of their thermodynamic, transport and relaxation properties. Therefore, the quantum physics of different HF compounds is universal, and emerges regardless of the microscopic structure of the compounds. This uniform behavior allows us to view it as the main characteristic of a new state of matter exhibited by HF compounds.