Quantum paramagnetism and magnetization plateaus in a kagome-honeycomb Heisenberg antiferromagnet

TL;DR

This paper investigates a spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on a honeycomb lattice with kagome superlattice structure, revealing a quantum paramagnetic phase with magnetization plateaus and providing insights into experimental observations in Cu2(pymca)3(ClO4).

Contribution

It introduces a detailed analysis of a bipartite, unfrustrated kagome-honeycomb Heisenberg model, uncovering a spin-gapped hexagonal-singlet phase and the conditions for magnetization plateaus.

Findings

Quantum paramagnetic phase dominated by spin-gapped hexagonal-singlet state.

Magnetization plateaus at 1/3 and 2/3 of saturation, or at 1/3 alone.

Plateaus occur only within the hexagonal-singlet phase region.

Abstract

A spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on honeycomb lattice is investigated by doing triplon analysis and quantum Monte Carlo calculations. This model, inspired by Cu$_2$(pymca)$_3$(ClO$_4$), has three different antiferromagnetic exchange interactions ($J_A$, $J_B$, $J_C$) on three different sets of nearest-neighbour bonds which form a kagome superlattice. While the model is bipartite and unfrustrated, its quantum phase diagram is found to be dominated by a quantum paramagnetic phase that is best described as a spin-gapped hexagonal-singlet state. The N\'eel antiferromagnetic order survives only in a small region around $J_A=J_B=J_C$. The magnetization produced by external magnetic field is found to exhibit plateaus at 1/3 and 2/3 of the saturation value, or at 1/3 alone, or no plateaus. Notably, the plateaus exist only inside a bounded region within the hexagonal-singlet phase. This study provides a clear understanding of the spin-gapped behaviour and magnetization plateaus observed in Cu$_2$(pymca)$_3$(ClO$_4$), and also predicts the possible disappearance of 2/3 plateau under pressure.