Nematic quantum phases in the bilayer honeycomb antiferromagnet

TL;DR

This paper explores the complex quantum phases of a bilayer honeycomb antiferromagnet, revealing a new nematic phase induced by frustration through various theoretical methods.

Contribution

It introduces the discovery of an extended, frustration-induced lattice nematic phase in the quantum phase diagram of the bilayer honeycomb antiferromagnet.

Findings

Identification of a rich variety of quantum phases.

Discovery of an extended nematic phase due to frustration.

Analysis of low-energy excitations and order parameters.

Abstract

The spin$-1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb bilayer lattice is shown to display a rich variety of semiclassical and genuinely quantum phases, controlled by the interplay between intralayer frustration and interlayer exchange. Employing a complementary set of techniques, comprising spin rotationally invariant Schwinger boson mean field theory, bond operators, and series expansions we unveil the quantum phase diagram, analyzing low-energy excitations and order parameters. By virtue of Schwinger bosons we scan the complete range of exchange parameters, covering both long range ordered as well as quantum disordered ground states and reveal the existence of an extended, frustration induced lattice nematic phase in a range of intermediate exchange unexplored so far.