Phase diagram of interacting spinless fermions on the honeycomb lattice

TL;DR

This paper reviews recent theoretical and numerical studies on the phase diagram of interacting spinless fermions on the honeycomb lattice, focusing on topological and charge-ordered phases influenced by interactions.

Contribution

It provides a comprehensive overview of the minimal model with density interactions on the honeycomb lattice, highlighting the stability of exotic quantum phases.

Findings

Identification of conditions for topological phase stability

Analysis of charge order and Wigner crystal formations

Assessment of spontaneous Chern insulator emergence

Abstract

Fermions hopping on a hexagonal lattice represent one of the most active research field in condensed matter since the discovery of graphene in 2004 and its numerous applications. Another exciting aspect of the interplay between geometry and quantum mechanical effects is given by the Haldane model (F. D. M. Haldane, Phys. Rev. Lett. 61, 2015 (1988)) where spinless fermions experiencing a certain flux pattern on the honeycomb lattice leads to the stabilization of a topological phase of matter, distinct from a Mott insulator and dubbed Chern insulator nowadays. In this context, it is crucial to understand the role of interactions and this review will describe recent results that have been obtained for a minimal model, namely spinless fermions fermions with nearest and next-nearest neighbour density-density interactions on the honeycomb lattice at half-filling. Topics addressed include an introduction of the minimal model and a discussion of the possible instabilities of the Dirac semimetal, a presentation of various theroretical and numerical approaches, and a summary of the results with a particular emphasis on the stability or not of some exotic quantum phases such as charge ordered ones (similar to Wigner crystals) or spontaneous Chern insulator phase.