Projected wave functions for fractionalized phases of quantum spin systems

TL;DR

This paper constructs and analyzes Gutzwiller-projected wave functions for quantum spin systems, revealing fractionalized phases with topological order, based on superconducting states and field-theoretical insights.

Contribution

It introduces a novel method to generate fractionalized quantum spin states by projecting superconducting states, demonstrating topological order in these wave functions.

Findings

Presence of topological order in the constructed states

Fractionalized excitations with quantum numbers

Connection between superconducting states and spin fractionalization

Abstract

Gutzwiller projection allows a construction of an assortment of variational wave functions for strongly correlated systems. For quantum spin S=1/2 models, Gutzwiller-projected wave functions have resonating-valence-bond structure and may represent states with fractional quantum numbers for the excitations. Using insights obtained from field-theoretical descriptions of fractionalization in two dimensions, we construct candidate wave functions of fractionalized states by projecting specific superconducting states. We explicitly demonstrate the presence of topological order in these states.