Skip to main content

Deconfined quantum critical point on the triangular lattice

Cornell Affiliated Author(s)

Author

C.-M. Jian
A. Thomson
A. Rasmussen
Z. Bi
C. Xu

Abstract

In this work we propose a theory for the deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) for spin-1/2 systems on a triangular lattice, which is a direct unfine-tuned quantum phase transition between the standard "3×3" noncollinear antiferromagnetic order (or the so-called 120 state) and the "12×12" valence solid bond (VBS) order, both of which are very standard ordered phases often observed in numerical simulations. This transition is beyond the standard Landau-Ginzburg paradigm and is also fundamentally different from the original DQCP theory on the square lattice due to the very different structures of both the magnetic and VBS order on frustrated lattices. We first propose a topological term in the effective-field theory that captures the "intertwinement" between the 3×3 antiferromagnetic order and the 12×12 VBS order. Then using a controlled renormalization-group calculation, we demonstrate that an unfine-tuned direct continuous DQCP exists between the two ordered phases mentioned above. This DQCP is described by the Nf=4 quantum electrodynamics (QED) with an emergent PSU(4)=SU(4)/Z4 symmetry only at the critical point. The aforementioned topological term is also naturally derived from the Nf=4 QED. We also point out that physics around this DQCP is analogous to the boundary of a 3d bosonic symmetry- protected topological state with only on-site symmetries. © 2018 American Physical Society.

Date Published

Journal

Physical Review B

Volume

97

Issue

19

URL

https://www.scopus.com/inward/record.uri?eid=2-s2.0-85047193188&doi=10.1103%2fPhysRevB.97.195115&partnerID=40&md5=dcb757daef0f4c045b86480e8ca92a5b

DOI

10.1103/PhysRevB.97.195115

Group (Lab)

Chao-Ming Jian Group

Funding Source

PHY-1125915
DMR-1151208
1125915
1151208
GBMF4304

Download citation