Neel to staggered dimer order transition in a generalized honeycomb lattice Heisenberg model

Abstract

We study a generalized honeycomb lattice spin-1/2 Heisenberg model with nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic 2-spin exchange, and competing 4-spin interactions which serve to stabilize a staggered dimer state which breaks lattice rotational symmetry. Using a combination of quantum Monte Carlo numerics, spin wave theory, and bond operator theory, we show that this model undergoes a strong first-order transition between a Neel state and a staggered dimer state upon increasing the strength of the 4-spin interactions. We attribute the strong first order character of this transition to the spinless nature of the core of point-like Z(3) vortices obtained in the staggered dimer state. Unlike in the case of a columnar dimer state, disordering such vortices in the staggered dimer state does not naturally lead to magnetic order, suggesting that, in this model, the dimer and Neel order parameters should be thought of as independent fields as in conventional Landau theory.

13 pages, 10 figs

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Cited by in corpus (15)

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• Bridging lattice-scale physics and continuum field theory with quantum Monte Carlo simulations
• Néel to valence-bond solid transition on the honeycomb lattice: Evidence for deconfined criticality
• Dirac Fermions with Competing Orders: Non-Landau Transition with Emergent Symmetry
• Finite-size scaling and boundary effects in two-dimensional valence-bond-solids
• Quantum phase transitions beyond Landau-Ginzburg theory in one-dimensional space revisited
• Transitions to valence-bond solid order in a honeycomb lattice antiferromagnet
• Valence-bond solids, vestigial order, and emergent SO(5) symmetry in a two-dimensional quantum magnet
• Continuous phase transition between Neel and valence bond solid phases in a J-Q-like spin ladder system
• Correlated valence-bond states
• Multiple insulating phases due to the interplay of strong correlations and lattice geometry in a single-orbital Hubbard model
• Tunable deconfined quantum criticality and interplay of different valence-bond solid phases
• Numerical studies of various Neel-VBS transitions in SU(N) anti-ferromagnets
• Exact staggered dimer ground state and its stability in a two-dimensional magnet
• Magnetic effects of non-magnetic impurities in gapped short-range resonating valence bond spin liquids