Spin-Orbital Liquid on a Triangular Lattice

TL;DR

This paper demonstrates that a specific spin-orbital $d^1$ model on a triangular lattice exhibits a spin-orbital liquid ground state, characterized by entangled valence bonds that challenge traditional magnetic rules.

Contribution

It provides the first evidence of a spin-orbital liquid in a $d^1$ model on a triangular lattice using exact diagonalization methods.

Findings

Identification of a spin-orbital liquid ground state.

Entangled valence bond states violate Goodenough-Kanamori rules.

Modification of effective spin exchange constants.

Abstract

Using Lanczos exact diagonalization of finite clusters we demonstrate that the spin-orbital $d^1$ model for triply degenerate $t_{2g}$ orbitals on a triangular lattice provides an example of a spin-orbital liquid ground state. We also show that the spin-orbital liquid involves entangled valence bond states which violate the Goodenough-Kanamori rules, and modify effective spin exchange constants.