Cluster dynamical mean field theory of quantum phases on a honeycomb lattice

TL;DR

This study uses cluster dynamical mean field theory to explore the quantum phases of the half-filled Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice, revealing a spin liquid phase and a first-order magnetic transition.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed DMFT analysis showing a spin liquid phase and the nature of the magnetic transition in the honeycomb Hubbard model.

Findings

Existence of a spin liquid phase from U=0 to Uc

First-order transition from spin liquid to antiferromagnetic phase

Charge fluctuations significantly influence the spin liquid stability

Abstract

We have studied the ground state of the half-filled Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice by performing the cluster dynamical mean field theory calculations with exact diagonalization on the cluster-impurity solver. Through using elaborate numerical analytic continuation, we identify the existence of a `spin liquid' from the on-site interaction U=0 to $U_c$ (between $4.6t$ and $4.85t$) with a smooth crossover correspondingly from the charge fluctuation dominating phase into the charge correlation dominating phase. The semi-metallic state exits only at U=0. We further find that the magnetic phase transition at $U_c$ from the `spin liquid' to the N\'{e}el antiferromagnetic Mott insulating phase is a first-order quantum phase transition. We also show that the charge fluctuation plays a substantial role on keeping the `spin liquid' phase against the emergence of a magnetic order.