S=1 Spin Liquids: Broken Discrete Symmetries Restored

TL;DR

This paper introduces a new type of spin 1 chirality liquid in two dimensions, featuring fractional statistics excitations that preserve parity and time-reversal symmetry, expanding understanding of quantum spin liquids.

Contribution

It presents the first example of a 2D quantum state with fractional statistics excitations that do not break P or T symmetries.

Findings

Supports spinon and holon excitations with chirality quantum number

Excitations obey half-Fermi statistics

Restores broken discrete symmetries in spin liquids

Abstract

We introduce a novel kind of spin liquid, the spin 1 chirality liquid, which provides a generic paradigm for a disordered spin 1 antiferromagnet in two dimensions. It supports spinon and holon excitations, which carry a chirality quantum number. These excitations obey half-fermi statistics. The sign of the statistical parameter is determined by the chirality. The spin 1 chirality liquid is the first example of a two dimensional quantum state which supports excitations with fractional statistics but does not violate P or T.