Vaporization of Kitaev spin liquids

Abstract

Quantum spin liquid is an exotic quantum state of matter in magnets. This state is a spin analogue of the liquid helium which does not solidify down to the lowest temperature due to strong quantum fluctuations. In conventional fluids, liquid and gas possess the same symmetry and adiabatically connect to each other by bypassing the critical end point. We find that the situation is qualitatively different in quantum spin liquids realizing in a three-dimensional Kitaev model; both gapless and gapped quantum spin liquid phases at low temperatures are always distinguished from the high-temperature paramagnet (spin gas) by a phase transition. The results challenge common belief that the absence of thermodynamic singularity down to the lowest temperature is a symptom of a quantum spin liquid.

11 pages, 9 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev. Lett

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• Theory of Magnetic Phase Diagrams in Hyperhoneycomb and Harmonic-honeycomb Iridates
• Comprehensive study of the dynamics of a classical Kitaev spin liquid
• Simple ${\mathbb{Z}}_2$ lattice gauge theories at finite fermion density
• Competing magnetic orders and spin liquids in two- and three-dimensional kagome systems: A pseudo-fermion functional renormalization group perspective
• Thermodynamic perspective on the field-induced behavior of $\alpha$-RuCl${}_3$
• Thermodynamic and Transport Properties in Disordered Kitaev Models
• Crystalline Kitaev spin liquids
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• Thermodynamic classification of three-dimensional Kitaev spin liquids
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• Universal Thermodynamics in the Kitaev Fractional Liquid
• High temperature thermodynamics of the honeycomb-lattice Kitaev-Heisenberg model: A high temperature series expansion study
• Nonlinear response of the Kitaev honeycomb lattice model in a weak magnetic field
• Epitaxial stabilization of (111)-oriented frustrated quantum pyrochlore thin films
• Quantum paramagnetism in the hyperhoneycomb Kitaev magnet $\beta$-ZnIrO${}_3$
• Thermally enhanced Majorana-mediated spin transport in the Kitaev model
• Projective symmetry of partons in Kitaev's honeycomb model
• Ground-State Phase Diagram of the Kitaev-Heisenberg Model on a Three-dimensional Hyperhoneycomb Lattice
• $J_{\mathrm{eff}}$ = 1/2 Hyperoctagon Lattice in Cobalt Oxalate Metal-Organic-Framework
• Projective-symmetry-group analysis of inelastic light scattering in Kitaev spin balls
• A quantum Monte Carlo method on asymptotic Lefschetz thimbles for quantum spin systems: An application to the Kitaev model in a magnetic field
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