Low-energy singlet dynamics of spin-$\frac12$ kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnets

TL;DR

This paper presents a theoretical model of low-energy singlet excitations in spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnets, using a block-based approach and effective Hamiltonian, providing insights into their ground state and potential experimental verification.

Contribution

It introduces a novel block representation and effective Hamiltonian approach to describe low-energy singlet dynamics in spin-1/2 kagome antiferromagnets, extending understanding beyond previous numerical studies.

Findings

Ground state energy lower than previous numerical estimates

Effective Hamiltonian describes singlet band as a magnet in a magnetic field

Proposes neutron scattering as an experimental test

Abstract

We give a physical picture of the low-energy sector of the spin-$\frac12$ kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnets (KAFs). It is shown that kagome lattice can be represented as a set of blocks containing 12 spins, having form of stars and arranged in a triangular lattice. Each of these stars has two degenerate singlet ground states which can be considered in terms of pseudospin-$\frac12$. It is shown using symmetry consideration that the KAF lower singlet band is made by inter-star interaction from these degenerate states. We demonstrate that this band is described by effective Hamiltonian of a magnet in the external magnetic field. The general form of this Hamiltonian is established. The Hamiltonian parameters are calculated up to the third order of perturbation theory. The ground state energy calculated in the considered model is lower than that evaluated numerically in the previous finite clusters studies. A way of experimental verification of this picture using neutron scattering is discussed. It is shown that the approach presented can not be expanded directly on KAFs with larger spin values.