Thermodynamic, magnetic and transport properties of the repulsive Hubbard model on the kagome lattice

TL;DR

This study uses quantum Monte Carlo simulations to explore the thermodynamic, magnetic, and transport properties of the repulsive Hubbard model on the kagome lattice, highlighting potential for adiabatic cooling and a metal-insulator transition.

Contribution

It provides unbiased computational insights into the finite-temperature behavior of the Hubbard model on the kagome lattice, relevant for ultra-cold atom experiments.

Findings

Evidence of adiabatic cooling in the system

Identification of a finite interaction strength metal-insulator transition

Detailed thermodynamic and magnetic response data

Abstract

Over the past decades, magnetic frustration has been under intense debate due to its unusual properties. For instance, frustration in the kagome lattice suppresses long range spin correlations and it is expected to be a candidate for a spin liquid system. Therefore, with the advent of experiments with ultra-cold atoms, the interest for frustrated geometries has increased. Given this, in the present work we investigate the repulsive Hubbard model on the kagome lattice by unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We examine its thermodynamic properties, as well as the magnetic and transport response of the system at finite temperatures and different values of the repulsive interaction. From these results, we discuss the possible occurrence of adiabatic cooling, a quite important feature in ultra-cold systems, and the presence of a metal-to-insulator transition at a finite interaction strength. Our findings may guide future experiments in ultra-cold fermionic atoms on the kagome lattice.