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Atanu Maity

Publications and source records attributed to Atanu Maity.

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Higgs criticality of Dirac spin liquids on depleted triangular lattices

We investigate Higgs criticality in candidate U(1) Dirac spin liquids across a family of depleted triangular lattices: the triangular, kagome, and maple-leaf geometries. For each, we identify the symmetry-allowed spinon-pairing channel connecting the U(1) state to a proximate $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid, deriving the corresponding quantum electrodynamics (QED$_3$)-Higgs theory. While the triangular and kagome lattices share a low-energy description with $N_f=4$ Dirac fermions, the maple-leaf lattice yields an analogous theory with $N_f=12$ and a distinct nodal structure where the Dirac cones can move along high-symmetry lines in momentum space instead of gapping out. Using a large-$N_{f,b}$ expansion, we compute critical exponents and the scaling dimensions of the symmetry-allowed Yukawa couplings. Although Higgs-field fluctuations and a large fermion flavor number strongly suppress the Yukawa coupling---pushing the maple-leaf lattice closer to stability than its counterparts---we find that the coupling remains relevant at leading order in all three cases, substantially reducing its scaling dimension on the maple-leaf lattice and asymptotically breaking Lorentz and conformal invariance. Ultimately, our results provide a unified framework demonstrating how the interplay between fermion flavor count and nodal geometry dictates the fate of the QED$_3$-Higgs transition.

cond-mat.str-el

Unified gauge-theory description of quantum spin liquids on square-based frustrated lattices

Quantum spin liquids are commonly thought to be highly sensitive to lattice geometry, symmetry, and microscopic exchange patterns, leading to a proliferation of seemingly distinct phases across frustrated magnets. Here, we provide a framework that unifies phases that appear distinct from the viewpoint of this intuition. We postulate that the spin-$\tfrac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg antiferromagnets on the square, Shastry-Sutherland, and checkerboard lattices can realize a single unified quantum phase: a gapless $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Dirac quantum spin liquid, despite their markedly different lattice symmetries. Using a systematic projective symmetry group analysis, we identify a checkerboard spin-liquid state that completes a closed set of adiabatically connected phases linking the well-established square-lattice and Shastry-Sutherland spin liquids. Crucially, we show that this lattice-level unification is mirrored exactly in the continuum description. In all three cases, the spin liquids descend from a common SU(2) $\pi$-flux parent state and are governed by the same gauge theory, QED$_3$ with two Dirac fermion flavors coupled to two adjoint Higgs fields. As a result, we postulate that the surrounding N\'eel and valence-bond-solid phases and their confinement transitions admit a unified interpretation within the framework of deconfined quantum criticality. More broadly, our results suggest that quantum spin liquids are most fundamentally classified not by lattice geometry or microscopic couplings, but by the emergent gauge theory and its Higgs structure. Distinct frustrated lattices can thus host the same quantum phase and exhibit the same confinement mechanisms, despite substantial differences in their microscopic symmetries.

cond-mat.str-el

Engineering altermagnetic orders on the square-kagome lattice through sublattice interference

We investigate the emergence of altermagnetic (AM) phases on the square-kagome lattice. Our analysis reveals that matrix element effects due to an orthogonal sublattice weight decomposition of Fermi level eigenstates known as sublattice interference enable decoupled magnetic ordering tendencies on distinct sublattices. Depending on which sublattice undergoes a magnetic instability, we identify a $d_{xy}$-type AM phase and a $d_{x^{2}-y^{2}}$-type AM phase originating from different sublattice polarization patterns. Using the Kotliar-Ruckenstein slave boson formalism we explore the stability of these AM phases as a function of interaction strength. Our findings demonstrate that sublattice-selective magnetic instabilities provide a versatile route to engineer the nature of AM order.

cond-mat.str-el

Unifying Dirac Spin Liquids on Square and Shastry-Sutherland Lattices via Fermionic Deconfined Criticality

We present a fermionic gauge theory for deconfined quantum criticality on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice and reveal its shared low-energy field-theoretic structure with the square lattice. Starting from an SU(2) $\pi$-flux parent state, we construct a continuum theory of Dirac spinons coupled to an SU(2) gauge field and adjoint Higgs fields whose condensates drive transitions to a staggered-flux U(1) spin liquid and a gapless $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ Dirac spin liquid. While the Shastry-Sutherland lattice permits additional symmetry-allowed fermion bilinears compared to the square lattice, the quantum field theories are identical up to additional irrelevant terms. Consequently, the Higgs potential structure and the leading low-energy theory coincide with the square-lattice case at the quantum critical point. The SO(5) critical point is expected to realize conformal deconfined criticality: we analyze it in a large flavor expansion, calculate its critical exponents, and identify the Yukawa coupling between the fermions and Higgs fields as the relevant perturbation that destabilizes it, consistent with pseudocritical behavior observed in recent Monte Carlo studies. We show that the emergent SO(5) order parameter acquires a large anomalous dimension at the critical point, leading to strongly enhanced N\'eel and VBS susceptibilities-a hallmark of fermionic deconfined quantum criticality consistent with numerical studies. Our results place recent numerical evidence for a gapless $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ Dirac spin liquid on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice within a controlled field-theoretic framework and demonstrate that fermionic deconfined criticality on the square lattice-including critical exponents and stability-extends to frustrated lattices with reduced symmetry.

cond-mat.str-el

Semi-Dirac spin liquids and frustrated quantum magnetism on the trellis lattice

Geometrical frustration in quantum magnets provides a fertile setting for unconventional phases of matter, including quantum spin liquids (QSLs). The trellis lattice, with its complex site arrangements and edge-sharing triangular motifs, presents a promising platform for such physics. In this work, we undertake a comprehensive classification of all fully symmetric QSLs on the trellis lattice using the projective symmetry group approach within the Abrikosov-fermion representation. We find 7 U(1) and 25 $Z_2$ short-ranged Ans\"atze and analyze the phase diagram in the mean-field parameter space, uncovering both gapped and Dirac QSLs as well as a semi-Dirac spin liquid that emerges at the level of projective symmetry group classification and mean-field band structure, in which the spinon dispersion is linear along one momentum direction but quadratic along the orthogonal one. We demonstrate that such dispersions can occur only at high-symmetry points in the Brillouin zone with $C_{2v}$ little groups and analyze their characteristic correlation signatures. Moreover, by optimizing over all symmetry-allowed mean-field states, we map out a phase diagram -- featuring six distinct phases -- of the nearest-neighbor Heisenberg Hamiltonian on the trellis lattice. Among these, we find four quasi-one-dimensional QSL phases, one dimer phase, and one Dirac QSL phase. Going beyond mean field, we also assess equal-time and dynamical spin structure factors of these phases using density-matrix renormalization group and Keldysh pseudofermion functional renormalization group calculations and compare qualitative momentum-space features of these spectra with those obtained at the mean-field level. Finally, we identify four cuprate and vanadate compounds as promising experimental realizations and provide spectroscopic predictions, based on first-principles Hamiltonians, as a guide for neutron-scattering studies.

cond-mat.str-el

Evidence for a $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ Dirac spin liquid in the generalized Shastry-Sutherland model

We present a multimethod investigation into the nature of the recently reported quantum spin liquid (QSL) phase in the spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice. A comprehensive projective symmetry group classification of fermionic mean-field Ans\"atze on this lattice yields 46 U(1) and 80 $\mathbb{Z}_2$ states. Using density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) and exact diagonalization calculations, we find that the Shastry-Sutherland model and the square-lattice $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet share the same QSL phase. Motivated by this observation, we establish an explicit mapping of our Ans\"atze to those on the square lattice, and identify the counterpart of the square-lattice $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Dirac QSL (Z2A$zz$13) in the Shastry-Sutherland system. Employing state-of-the-art variational Monte Carlo calculations with Gutzwiller-projected wavefunctions, further improved by L\'anczos steps, we demonstrate excellent agreement in both energies and correlation functions between a gapless (Dirac) $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid-characterized by only a few variational parameters-and results obtained from neural quantum states and DMRG. Finally, we apply the recently developed Keldysh formulation of the pseudo-fermion functional renormalization group to compute the dynamical spin structure factor. The resulting spectra exhibit features consistent with Dirac cones in the excitation spectrum, providing strong independent evidence for a Dirac QSL ground state. Our identification of a $d$-wave pairing $\mathbb{Z}_2$ Dirac QSL is consistent with recently observed signatures of QSL behavior in Pr$_2$Ga$_2$BeO$_7$ and outlines predictions for future experiments.

cond-mat.str-el

Altermagnetic phase transition in a Lieb metal

We analyze the phase transition between a symmetric metallic parent state and itinerant altermagnetic order. The underlying mechanism we reveal in our microscopic model of electrons on a Lieb lattice does not involve orbital ordering, but derives from sublattice interference.

cond-mat.str-el

Fermionic parton theory of Rydberg $\mathbb{Z}_2$ quantum spin liquids

Programmable quantum simulators based on neutral atom arrays today offer powerful platforms for studying strongly correlated phases of quantum matter. Here, we employ the projective symmetry group framework to describe the symmetry fractionalization patterns in a topologically ordered $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ quantum spin liquid (QSL) synthesized in such a Rydberg array on the ruby lattice. By systematically comparing the static structure factors of all possible mean-field $\textit{Ans\"atze}$ against density-matrix renormalization group calculations, we identify a promising candidate for the precise $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ QSL realized microscopically. We also present detailed analyses of the dynamical structure factors as a reference for future experiments and showcase how these spin correlations can differentiate between varied QSL $\textit{Ans\"atze}$.

cond-mat.str-el

Gapped and gapless quantum spin liquids on the ruby lattice

The ruby lattice has been the subject of much interest recently due its realization in Rydberg atom arrays, where its rich variety of frustrated interactions gives rise to topologically ordered quantum spin liquids. Similarly, numerical studies of ruby-lattice spin models, with both isotropic and anisotropic interactions, have provided evidence of gapped and gapless spin-liquid ground states with different low-energy gauge structures. Motivated by these findings, we perform a projective symmetry group (PSG) classification of U(1) and $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ fermionic spinon mean-field theories$\unicode{x2014}$respecting space-group and time-reversal symmetries$\unicode{x2014}$for $S=1/2$ spins. We obtain a total of 50 U(1) and 64 $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ PSGs, and upon restricting their realization via mean-field $\textit{Ans\"atze}$ with up to second-nearest-neighbor singlet amplitudes (relevant to the models studied here), only 8 U(1) and 18 $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ distinct states are obtained. We present the singlet fields for all $\textit{Ans\"atze}$ up to third-nearest-neighboring bonds and discuss their spinon dispersions as well as their dynamical spin structure factors. Building on this information, we also obtain the phase diagram of the Heisenberg model in the presence of first ($J_{1}$), second ($J_{1}'$), and third ($J_{2}$) neighbor antiferromagnetic couplings within a self-consistent mean-field approximation.

cond-mat.str-el

Chiral Gapless Spin Liquid in Hyperbolic Space

We analyze the Kitaev model on the $\{9,3\}$ hyperbolic lattice. The $\{9,3\}$ is formed by a regular tricoordinated tiling of nonagons, where the 3-color coding of bonds according to the inequivalent Kitaev Ising spin couplings yields the natural generalization of the original Kitaev model for Euclidean regular honeycomb tiling. Upon investigation of the bulk spectrum for large finite size droplets, we identify a gapless chiral $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid state featuring spontaneous time reversal symmetry breaking. Due to its non-commutative translation group structure, such type of hyperbolic spin liquid is conjectured to feature chiral quasiparticles with a potentially non-Abelian Bloch profile.

cond-mat.str-el

Candidate quantum spin liquids on the maple-leaf lattice

Motivated by recent numerical studies reporting putative quantum paramagnetic behavior in spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg models on the maple-leaf lattice, we classify Abrikosov fermion mean-field Ans\"atze of fully symmetric $U(1)$ and $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ quantum spin liquids within the framework of projective symmetry groups. We obtain a total of $17$ $U(1)$ and $12$ $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ algebraic PSGs, and, upon restricting their realization via mean-field Ans\"atze with nearest-neighbor amplitudes (relevant to the studied models), only 12 $U(1)$ and 8 $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ distinct phases are obtained. We present both singlet and triplet fields for all Ans\"atze up to third nearest-neighbor bonds and discuss their spinon dispersions as well as their dynamical spin structure factors. We further assess the effects of Gutzwiller projection on the equal-time spin structure factors, and identify a $U(1)$ Fermi surface spin liquid whose structure factor most closely reproduces the one obtained from pseudo-fermion functional renormalization group calculations.

cond-mat.str-el

$\require{mhchem}$Quantum paramagnetism in the decorated square-kagome antiferromagnet $\ce{Na6Cu7BiO4(PO4)4Cl3}$

$\require{mhchem}$The square-kagome lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet is a highly frustrated Hamiltonian whose material realizations have been scarce. We theoretically investigate the recently synthesized $\ce{Na6Cu7BiO4(PO4)4Cl3}$ where a Cu$^{2+}$ spin-$1/2$ square-kagome lattice (with six site unit cell) is decorated by a seventh magnetic site alternatingly above and below the layers. The material does not show any sign of long-range magnetic order down to 50 mK despite a Curie-Weiss temperature of $-212$ K indicating a quantum paramagnetic phase. Our DFT energy mapping elicits a purely antiferromagnetic Hamiltonian that features longer range exchange interactions beyond the pure square-kagome model and, importantly, we find the seventh site to be strongly coupled to the plane. We combine two variational Monte Carlo approaches, pseudo-fermion/Majorana functional renormalization group and Schwinger-Boson mean field calculations to show that the complex Hamiltonian of $\ce{Na6Cu7BiO4(PO4)4Cl3}$ still features a nonmagnetic ground state. We explain how the seventh Cu$^{2+}$ site actually aids the stabilization of the disordered state. We predict static and dynamic spin structure factors to guide future neutron scattering experiments.

cond-mat.str-el

Quantum spin liquids on the diamond lattice

We perform a projective symmetry group classification of spin $S=1/2$ symmetric quantum spin liquids with different gauge groups on the diamond lattice. Employing the Abrikosov fermion representation, we obtain $8$ $SU(2)$, $62$ $U(1)$ and $80$ $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ algebraic PSGs. Constraining these solutions to mean-field parton Ans\"atze with short-range amplitudes, the classification reduces to only $2$ $SU(2)$, $7$ $U(1)$ and $8$ $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ distinctly realizable phases. We obtain both the singlet and triplet fields for all Ans\"atze, discuss the spinon dispersions, and present the dynamical spin structure factors within a self-consistent treatment of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian with up to third-nearest neighbor couplings. Interestingly, we find that a zero-flux $SU(2)$ state and some descendent $U(1)$ and $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ states host robust gapless nodal loops in their dispersion spectrum, owing their stability at the mean-field level to the projective implementation of rotoinversion and screw symmetries. A nontrivial connection is drawn between one of our $U(1)$ spinon Hamiltonians (belonging to the nonprojective class) and the Fu-Kane-Mele model for a three-dimensional topological insulator on the diamond lattice. We show that Gutzwiller projection of the 0- and $\pi$-flux $SU(2)$ spin liquids generates long-range N\'eel order.

cond-mat.str-el

Projective symmetry group classification of Abrikosov fermion mean-field ans\"atze on the square-octagon lattice

We perform a projective symmetry group (PSG) classification of symmetric quantum spin liquids with different gauge groups on the square-octagon lattice. Employing the Abrikosov fermion representation for spin-$1/2$, we obtain $32$ $SU(2)$, $1808$ $U(1)$ and $384$ $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$ algebraic PSGs. Constraining ourselves to mean-field parton ans\"atze with short-range amplitudes, the classification reduces to a limited number, with 4 $SU(2)$, 24 $U(1)$ and 36 $\mathbb{Z}_{2}$, distinct phases. We discuss their ground state properties and spinon dispersions within a self-consistent treatment of the Heisenberg Hamiltonian with frustrating couplings.

cond-mat.str-el

Competing orders in a frustrated Heisenberg model on the Fisher lattice

We investigate the Heisenberg model on a decorated square (Fisher) lattice in the presence of first-neighbor $J_{1}$, second-neighbor $J_{2}$, and third-neighbor $J_{3}$ exchange couplings, with antiferromagnetic $J_{1}$. The classical ground-state phase diagram obtained within a Luttinger-Tisza framework is spanned by two antiferromagnetically ordered phases, and an infinitely degenerate antiferromagnetic chain phase. Employing classical Monte Carlo simulations we show that thermal fluctuations fail to lift the degeneracy of the antiferromagnetic chain phase. Interestingly, the spin-wave spectrum of the N\'eel state displays three Dirac nodal loops out of which two are symmetry protected while for the antiferromagnetic chain phase we find symmetry-protected Dirac lines. Furthermore, we investigate the spin $S=\frac{1}{2}$ limit employing a bond operator formalism which captures the singlet-triplet dynamics, and find a rich ground-state phase diagram host to a variety of valence bond solid orders in addition to antiferromagnetically ordered phases.

cond-mat.str-el

Choline chloride as a nano-crowder protects HP-36 from urea-induced denaturation: Insights from Solvent Dynamics and Protein-Solvent interaction

Urea at sufficiently high concentration unfolds the secondary structure of proteins leading to denaturation. In contrast, Choline Chloride (ChCl) and urea, in 1:2 molar ratio form a deep eutectic mixture, a liquid at room temperature and protect proteins from denaturation. In order to get a microscopic picture of this phenomenon, we perform extensive all-atom molecular dynamics simulations on a model protein HP-36. Based on our calculation of Kirkwood-Buff integrals, we analyze the relative accumulation of these osmolytes around the protein. Additional insights are drawn from the analyses of the translational and rotational dynamics of solvent molecules and also from the hydrogen bond auto-correlation functions. In the presence of urea, water shows slow subdiffusive dynamics around the protein backbone as a consequence of stronger interaction of water molecules with the backbone atoms. Urea also shows subdiffusive motion. Addition of choline further slows down the dynamics of urea restricting its inclusion around the protein backbone. Adding to this, choline molecules in the first solvation shell of the protein shows the strongest subdiffusive behavior. In other words, ChCl behaves as a nano-crowder by excluding urea from the protein backbone and thereby slowing down the dynamics of the water layer around the protein. This prevents the protein from denaturation and makes it structurally rigid which in turn is supported by the smaller radius of gyration and root mean square deviation values of HP-36 when ChCl is present in the system.

cond-mat.soft

Quantum theory of spin waves for Helical ground states in Hollandite lattice

We perform spin wave analysis of classical ground states of a model Hamiltonian proposed earlier(Phys. Rev. B {\bf 90}, 104420(2014)) for $\alpha-MnO_2$ compounds. It is known that the phase diagram of the Hollandite lattice (lattice of $\alpha-MnO_2$ compounds) consists of four different Helical phases(FH, A2H, C2H, CH phase) in the space of model parameters $J_1,~J_2,~J_3$. The spin wave dispersion shows presence of gapless mode which interpolates between quadratic to linear depending on phases and values of $J_i$'s. In most cases, the 2nd lowest mode shows the existence of a roton minima mainly from $X$ to $M$ and $M$ to $Z$ path. Few higher modes also show roton minima. Each helical phase has its characteristic traits which can be used to determine the phases itself. The analytical expressions of eigenmodes at high symmetry points are obtained which can be utilized to extract the values of $J_i$'s. Density of states, specific heat and susceptibilities at low temperature has been studied within spin wave approximation. The specific heat shows departure from $T^{1.5(3)}$ dependence found in three dimensional unfrustrated ferromagnetic(anti-ferromagnetic) system which seems to be the signature of incommensurate helical phase. The parallel susceptibility is maximum for FH phase and minimum for CH phase at low temperature. The perpendicular susceptibility is found to be independent of temperature at very low temperature. Our study can be used to compare experimental results on magnon spectrum, elastic neutron scattering, and finite temperature properties mentioned above for clean $\alpha-MnO_2$ system

cond-mat.str-el