Ground-state properties of the $K-\Gamma$ model on a honeycomb lattice

Abstract

We investigate the ground-state properies of the $K-\Gamma$ model on a honeycomb lattice using series expansions and numerical exact diagonalizations, where the model includes Kitaev ($K$) and symmetric off-diagonal ($\Gamma$) interactions. Starting from the weakly interacting dimers on the specific bond, we strengthen the interdimer interactions to the isotropically interacting system. We show that depending on $\Gamma$ and $K$, the dimer state survives up to the isotropically interacting system, where the phase transition occurs, or obeys a phase transition to a magnetically ordered state at an anisotropic interaction. The results are summarized in the phase diagram. We also show that the Kekulé dimerized state is unstable in the isotropic $K-\Gamma$ model.

7 pages, 7 figures, revised version