Thermodynamics of Shastry-Sutherland Model under Magnetic Field

TL;DR

This study uses advanced thermal tensor-network simulations to explore the Shastry-Sutherland model under magnetic fields, revealing a novel symmetric intermediate phase with T-linear specific heat that aligns with experimental observations in SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$.

Contribution

It uncovers a previously unknown symmetric intermediate phase with T-linear specific heat in the model, suggesting new quantum states in frustrated magnets.

Findings

Identification of a symmetric intermediate phase with T-linear specific heat

Large parameter space where this phase exists between known magnetic phases

Similarity of the phase to experimental results in SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$

Abstract

Motivated by the recent experimental discovery of the $T$-linear specific heat in pressurized and magnetized Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$, we perform the state-of-the-art thermal tensor-network computation on the Shastry-Sutherland model under a magnetic field. Our simulation results suggest the existence of a symmetric intermediate phase with $T$-linear specific heat at low temperature, occupying a large parameter space and between the plaquette-singlet phase and antiferromagnetic phase at low fields and other symmetry-breaking phases at high fields before the system is fully polarized. Such an unexpected novel state bears an astonishing similarity to the experimental findings in the material. It opens the door to further investigations of the possible liberation of deconfined magnetized Dirac spinons by the competing interactions in this highly frustrated quantum magnet model, and by the combined effects of magnetic field and pressure in the associated Shastry-Sutherland Mott insulator SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$.