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arXiv · 2212.10040

Spin Nematics Meet Spin Liquids: Exotic Quantum Phases in the Spin-$1$ Bilinear-Biquadratic Model with Kitaev Interactions

Rico Pohle·Nic Shannon·Yukitoshi Motome
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Abstract

Spin liquid crystals are magnetic analogs of liquid crystals, possessing properties of both liquids and solids, a typical example of which are spin nematics. Spin nematics share many features with spin liquids, and the interplay between them is a promising, but little explored, route to uncovering new phases of matter. Here, we address this question in the context of a spin-$1$ magnet on the honeycomb lattice, by considering a model with both biquadratic interactions, favouring spin-nematic states, and Kitaev-like interactions, supporting spin liquids. Accompanying these, where dipole and quadrupole moments compete, we find a plethora of exotic phases, including multiple-$q$ states with nonzero scalar spin chirality; a quasi-one-dimensional coplanar phase; a twisted conical phase; and a noncoplanar order state which gives way to a chiral spin liquid at finite temperature. The implication of these results for experiment is discussed.

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Rico Pohle, Nic Shannon, Yukitoshi Motome. 2022-12-20. Spin Nematics Meet Spin Liquids: Exotic Quantum Phases in the Spin-$1$ Bilinear-Biquadratic Model with Kitaev Interactions. https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.107.l140403

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