Classification of quantum phases for the star-lattice antiferromagnet via a projective symmetry group analysis

TL;DR

This paper investigates quantum ground states of the star-lattice antiferromagnet, identifying two gapped Z2 spin liquid phases using a projective symmetry group analysis, which could inform understanding of related magnetic materials.

Contribution

It introduces a classification of possible quantum spin liquid phases on the star lattice using PSG analysis and large-N mean field theory, highlighting two distinct gapped Z2 phases with potential experimental relevance.

Findings

Two distinct gapped Z2 spin liquid phases identified

The lower-energy spin liquid phase is stabilized at higher spin magnitudes

Magnetic ordering patterns from spinon condensation are determined

Abstract

We study possible quantum ground states of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the star lattice, which may be realized in the recently discovered polymeric Iron Acetate, Fe$_3$($\mu_3$-O)($\mu$-OAc)$_6$(H$_2$O)$_3$[Fe$_3$($\mu_3$-O)($\mu$-OAc)$_{7.5}$]$_2\cdot$ 7H$_2$O. Even though the Fe$^{\rm III}$ moment in this material carries spin-5/2 and the system eventually orders magnetically at low temperatures, the magnetic ordering temperature is much lower than the estimated Curie-Weiss temperature, revealing the frustrated nature of the spin interactions. Anticipating that a lower spin analog of this material may be synthesized in future, we investigate the effect of quantum fluctuations on the star-lattice antiferromagnet using a large-$N$ Sp($N$) mean field theory and a projective symmetry group analysis for possible bosonic quantum spin liquid phases. It is found that there exist only two distinct gapped $Z_2$ spin liquid phases with bosonic spinons for non-vanishing nearest-neighbor valence-bond-amplitudes. In particular, the spin liquid phase which has a lower energy in the nearest-neighbor exchange model can be stabilized for relatively higher spin magnitudes. Hence it is perhaps a better candidate for the realization of quantum spin liquid state. We also determine the magnetic ordering patterns resulting from the condensation of the bosonic spinons in the two different spin liquid phases. We expect these magnetic ordering patterns would directly be relevant for the low temperature ordered phase of the Iron Acetate. The phase diagram containing all of these phases and various dimerized states are obtained for the nearest-neighbor exchange model and its implications are discussed.