Journal article icon

Journal article

Dynamics of fractionalization in quantum spin liquids

Abstract:
We present the theory of dynamical spin response for the Kitaev honeycomb model, obtaining exact results for the structure factor (SF) in gapped and gapless, Abelian and non-Abelian quantum spin-liquid (QSL) phases. We also describe the advances in methodology necessary to compute these results. The structure factor shows signatures of spin fractionalization into emergent quasiparticles: Majorana fermions and fluxes of Z2 gauge field. In addition to a broad continuum from spin fractionalization, we find sharp (δ-function) features in the response. These arise in two distinct ways: from excited states containing only (static) fluxes and no (mobile) fermions, and from excited states in which fermions are bound to fluxes. The SF is markedly different in Abelian and non-Abelian QSLs, and bound fermion-flux composites appear only in the non-Abelian phase.
Publication status:
Published
Peer review status:
Peer reviewed

Actions


Access Document


Files:
Publisher copy:
10.1103/PhysRevB.92.115127

Authors


More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS
Department:
Physics
Sub department:
Atomic & Laser Physics
Role:
Author
More by this author
Institution:
University of Oxford
Division:
MPLS Division
Department:
Physics; Theoretical Physics
Oxford college:
St Hugh's College
Role:
Author


Publisher:
American Physical Society
Journal:
Physical review B: Condensed matter and materials physics More from this journal
Volume:
92
Issue:
11
Pages:
ARTN 115127
Publication date:
2015-09-14
DOI:
EISSN:
1550-235X
ISSN:
1098-0121


Keywords:
Pubs id:
pubs:568627
UUID:
uuid:e5acad57-726b-4479-a343-9d478cae820c
Local pid:
pubs:568627
Source identifiers:
568627
Deposit date:
2018-04-21

Terms of use



Views and Downloads






If you are the owner of this record, you can report an update to it here: Report update to this record

TO TOP