Discrete symmetries and Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem

TL;DR

This paper explores how discrete symmetries influence the ground states and phases of 1D quantum spin systems, extending the Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem to incorporate these symmetries and clarify their role in phase classification.

Contribution

It generalizes the LSM theorem to include discrete symmetries and relates these symmetries to ground state properties and phase classification in 1D quantum spin systems.

Findings

Discrete symmetries help classify possible phases.

The generalized LSM theorem reconciles with dimer and Néel states.

Discrete symmetries are sufficient for phase classification.

Abstract

In this study, we consider one-dimension (1D) quantum spin systems with the translation and discrete symmetries (spin reversal, space inversion and time reversal symmetries). By combining the continuous U(1) symmetry with the discrete symmetries and using the extended Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem \cite{Lieb-Schultz-Mattis-1961}\cite{Nomura-Morishige-Isoyama-2015}, we investigate the relation between the ground states, energy spectra and symmetries. For half-integer spin cases, we generalize the dimer and N\'eel concepts using the discrete symmetries, and we can reconcile the LSM theorem with the dimer or N\'eel states, since there was a subtle dilemma. Furthermore, a part of discrete symmetries is enough to classify possible phases. Thus we can deepen our understanding of the relation between the LSM theorem and the discrete symmetries.