Topological edge states in spin 1 bilinear-biquadratic model

Abstract

The spin 1 bilinear-biquadratic model on square lattice in the region $0<\varphi <\pi /4$ is studied in a fermion representation with a p-wave pairing BCS type mean-field theory. Our results show there may exist a non-trivial gapped spin liquid with time-reversal symmetry spontaneously breaking. This exotic state manifests its topological nature by forming chiral states at the edges. To show it more clear, we set up and solved a ribbon system. We got a gapless dispersion representing the edge modes beneath the bulk modes. The edge modes with nonzero longitudinal momentum ($k_x\ne 0$) convect in opposite directions at the two edges, which leads to a two-fold degeneracy. While the zero longitudinal momentum ($k_x=0$) modes turn out to be Majorana fermion states. The edge spin correlation functions are found to decay in a power law with the distance increasing. We also calculated the contribution of the edge modes to the specific heat and obtained a linear law at low temperatures.

16 pages

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