Electric field control of emergent electrodynamics in quantum spin ice

Abstract

We study the coupling between conventional (Maxwell) and emergent electrodynamics in quantum spin ice, a 3+1-dimensional $U(1)$ quantum spin liquid. We find that a uniform electric field can be used to tune the properties of both the ground state and excitations of the spin liquid. In particular, it induces emergent birefringence, rendering the speed of the emergent light anisotropic and polarization-dependent. A sufficiently strong electric field triggers a quantum phase transition into new $U(1)$ quantum spin liquid phases which trap emergent electric $\pi$-fluxes. The flux patterns of these new phases depend on the direction of the electric field. Strikingly, some of the canonical pinch points in the spin structure factor, characteristic of classical spin ice, emerge near the phase transition, while they are absent in the quantum spin liquid phases. Estimating the electric field strength required, we find that this transition is potentially accessible experimentally. Finally, we propose a minimal mechanism by which an oscillating electric field can generate emergent radiation inside a quantum spin ice material with non-Kramers spin doublets.

22 pages, 10 figures. Revised, published version

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• Extended Coulomb liquid of paired hardcore boson model on a pyrochlore lattice
• Seeing beyond the light: Vison and photon electrodynamics in quantum spin ice
• Peering into the darkness: vison-generated photon mass in quantum spin ice
• Hybrid Dyons, inverted Lorentz force and magnetic Nernst effect in quantum spin ice
• Magnetic field and thermal Hall effect in a pyrochlore U(1) quantum spin liquid
• Electric activity at magnetic moment fragmentation in spin ice
• Magnetic Monopole Supercurrent through a Quantum Spin Ice Tunnel Junction
• Probing emergent QED in quantum spin ice via Raman scattering of phonons: shallow inelastic scattering and pair production
• Interplay of uniform U(1) quantum spin liquid and magnetic phases in rare earth pyrochlore magnets : a fermionic parton approach
• Vison crystal in quantum spin ice on the breathing pyrochlore lattice
• Electric Field Response In Breathing Pyrochlores