arXiv subjects

D. Poilblanc

Publications and source records attributed to D. Poilblanc.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2015

Real Space Imaging of Spin Polarons in Zn Doped SrCu2(BO3)2

We report on the real space profile of spin polarons in the quasi two-dimensional frustrated dimer spin system SrCu2(BO3)2 doped with 0.16% of Zn. The 11B nuclear magnetic resonance spectrum exhibits 15 additional boron sites near non-magnetic Zn impurities. With the help of exact diagonalizations of finite clusters, we have deduced from the boron spectrum the distribution of local magnetizations at the Cu sites with fine spatial resolution, providing direct evidence for an extended spin polaron. The results are confronted with those of other experiments performed on doped and undoped samples of SrCu2(BO3)2.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2013

Edge theories in Projected Entangled Pair State models

We study the edge physics of gapped quantum systems in the framework of Projected Entangled Pair State (PEPS) models. We show that the effective low-energy model for any region acts on the entanglement degrees of freedom at the boundary, corresponding to physical excitations located at the edge. This allows us to determine the edge Hamiltonian in the vicinity of PEPS models, and we demonstrate that by choosing the appropriate bulk perturbation, the edge Hamiltonian can exhibit a rich phase diagram and phase transitions. While for models in the trivial phase any Hamiltonian can be realized at the edge, we show that for topological models, the edge Hamiltonian is constrained by the topological order in the bulk which can e.g. protect a ferromagnetic Ising chain at the edge against spontaneous symmetry breaking.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Statistics of holes and nature of superfluid phases in Quantum dimer models

Quantum Dimer Models (QDM) arise as low energy effective models for frustrated magnets. Some of these models have proven successful in generating a scenario for exotic spin liquid phases with deconfined spinons. Doping, i.e. the introduction of mobile holes, has been considered within the QDM framework and partially studied. A fundamental issue is the possible existence of a superconducting phase in such systems and its properties. For this purpose, the question of the statistics of the mobile holes (or "holons") shall be addressed first. Such issues are studied in details in this paper for generic doped QDM defined on the most common two-dimensional lattices (square, triangular, honeycomb, kagome,...) and involving general resonant loops. We prove a general "statistical transmutation" symmetry of such doped QDM by using composite operators of dimers and holes. This exact transformation enables to define duality equivalence classes (or families) of doped QDM, and provides the analytic framework to analyze dynamical statistical transmutations. We discuss various possible superconducting phases of the system. In particular, the possibility of an exotic superconducting phase originating from the condensation of (bosonic) charge-e holons is examined. A numerical evidence of such a superconducting phase is presented in the case of the triangular lattice, by introducing a novel gauge-invariant holon Green's function. We also make the connection with a Bose-Hubbard model on the kagome lattice which gives rise, as an effective model in the limit of strong interactions, to a doped QDM on the triangular lattice.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2012

Statistical transmutation in doped quantum dimer models

We prove a "statistical transmutation" symmetry of doped quantum dimer models on the square, triangular and kagome lattices: the energy spectrum is invariant under a simultaneous change of statistics (i.e. bosonic into fermionic or vice-versa) of the holes and of the signs of all the dimer resonance loops. This exact transformation enables to define duality equivalence between doped quantum dimer Hamiltonians, and provides the analytic framework to analyze dynamical statistical transmutations. We investigate numerically the doping of the triangular quantum dimer model, with special focus on the topological Z2 dimer liquid. Doping leads to four (instead of two for the square lattice) inequivalent families of Hamiltonians. Competition between phase separation, superfluidity, supersolidity and fermionic phases is investigated in the four families.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Impurity-doped Kagome Antiferromagnet: A Quantum Dimer Model Approach

The doping of quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnets on the kagome lattice by non-magnetic impurities is investigated within the framework of a generalized quantum dimer model (QDM) describing a) the valence bond crystal (VBC), b) the dimer liquid and c) the critical region on equal footing. Following the approach by Ralko et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 101, 117204 (2008)] for the square and triangular lattices, we introduce the (minimal) extension of the QDM on the Kagome lattice to account for spontaneous creation of mobile S=1/2 spinons at finite magnetic field. Modulations of the dimer density (at zero or finite magnetic field) and of the local field-induced magnetization in the vicinity of impurities are computed using Lanczos Exact Diagonalization techniques on small clusters (48 and 75 sites). The VBC is clearly revealed from its pinning by impurities, while, in the dimer liquid, crystallization around impurities involves only two neighboring dimers. We also find that a next-nearest-neighbor ferromagnetic coupling favors VBC order. Unexpectedly, a small size spinon-impurity bound state appears in some region of the the dimer liquid phase. In contrast, in the VBC phase the spinon delocalizes within a large region around the impurity, revealing the weakness of the VBC confining potential. Lastly, we observe that an impurity concentration as small as 4% enhances dimerization substantially. These results are confronted to the Valence Bond Glass scenario [R.R.P. Singh, Phys. Rev. Lett. 104, 177203 (2010)] and implications to the interpretation of the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance spectra of the Herbertsmithite compound are outlined.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2010

Quantum Melting of Valence Bond Crystal Insulators and Novel Supersolid Phase at Commensurate Density

Bosonic and fermionic Hubbard models on the checkerboard lattice are studied numerically for infinite on-site repulsion. At particle density n=1/4 and strong nearest-neighbor repulsion, insulating Valence Bond Crystals (VBC) of resonating particle pairs are stabilized. Their melting into superfluid/metallic phases under increasing hopping is investigated at T=0K. More specifically, we identify a novel and unconventional commensurate VBC supersolid region, precursor to the melting of the bosonic crystal. Hardcore bosons (spins) are compared to fermions (electrons), as well as positive to negative (frustrating) hoppings.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Theory of the Raman spectra of the Shastry-Sutherland antiferromagnet SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$ doped with nonmagnetic impurities

Controlled doping of SrCu$_2$(BO$_3$)$_2$, a faithful realization of the Heisenberg spin-1/2 antiferromagnet on the Shastry-Sutherland lattice, with non-magnetic impurities generates bound-states below the spin gap. These bound-states and their symmetry properties are investigated by exact diagonalisation of small clusters and within a simple effective model describing a spinon submitted to an attractive extended potential. It is shown that Raman spectroscopy is a unique technique to probe these bound-states. Quantitative theoretical Raman spectra are numerically obtained.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

A Generalized Quantum Dimer Model Applied to the Frustrated Heisenberg Model on the Square Lattice: Emergence of a Mixed Columnar-Plaquette Phase

Aiming to describe frustrated quantum magnets with non-magnetic singlet ground states, we have extended the Rokhsar-Kivelson (RK) loop-expansion to derive a generalized Quantum Dimer Model containing only connected terms up to arbitrary order. For the square lattice frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet (J1-J2-J3 model), an expansion up to 8th order shows that the leading correction to the original RK model comes from dimer moves on length-6 loops. This model free of the original sign problem is treated by advanced numerical techniques. The results suggest that a rotationally anisotropic plaquette phase is the ground state of the Heisenberg model in the parameter region of maximum frustration.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Thermodynamics of the Spin Luttinger-Liquid in a Model Ladder Material

The phase diagram in temperature and magnetic field of the metal-organic, two-leg, spin-ladder compound (C5H12N)2CuBr4 is studied by measurements of the specific heat and the magnetocaloric effect. We demonstrate the presence of an extended spin Luttinger-liquid phase between two field-induced quantum critical points and over a broad range of temperature. Based on an ideal spin-ladder Hamiltonian, comprehensive numerical modelling of the ladder specific heat yields excellent quantitative agreement with the experimental data across the complete phase diagram.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Mixed Columnar-Plaquette Crystal of correlated fermions on the 2D pyrochlore lattice at fractional filling

We study a model of strongly correlated S=1/2 fermions on the planar pyrochlore, or checkerboard, lattice, at fractional (1/8) filling. Starting with the extended Hubbard model in the limit of strong Coulomb repulsion, low-energy configurations can be mapped onto hard-core dimer configurations whose dimers carry a spin degree of freedom. An effective Hamiltonian similar to the kinetic term of a quantum dimer model on the square lattice which rotates two parallel dimers (in a spin-singlet configuration) by 90 degrees naturally emerges. We also introduce an additional term in the Hamiltonian, a generalized dimer plaquette interaction, in order to realize a closer analogy to the latter model. For a strong dimer plaquette attraction stabilizing a columnar phase, a spontaneous dimerization takes place in the direction of the columns of (spin-carrying) dimers. Using exact diagonalizations of two-dimensional periodic clusters, the analysis of the low-energy spectrum and of several types of correlation functions gives indeed evidence for a new type of lattice symmetry breaking phase, the eight-fold degenerate Mixed Columnar-Plaquette Crystal, and for a transition from this phase to a Resonating-Singlet-Pair Crystal (found in previous studies) which restores the rotational symmetry of the lattice. Similar conclusions and phase diagram are also reached from a simple variational approach.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Magnetic field-induced transition in a quantum magnet described by the Quantum Dimer Model

The effect of a magnetic field on a gapped quantum magnet is described within the framework of the Quantum Dimer Model. A minimal model describing the proliferation of itinerant spinons above a critical field is proposed and investigated by Lanczos exact diagonalizations and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. For both square and triangular lattices, it is shown that spinons are fully polarized and Bose-condense. This offers a novel scenario of a Quantum Critical Point in the dimer-liquid phase (triangular lattice) characterized by the continuous appearance of a spinon superfluid density, contrasting with the usual triplet condensation picture. The possible role of other spinon kinetic terms neglected in the model are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Pairing Glue in the Hubbard and t-J Models

The question of whether one should speak of a "pairing glue" in the Hubbard and t-J models is basically a question about the dynamics of the pairing interaction. If the dynamics of the pairing interaction arises from virtual states, whose energies correspond to the Mott gap, and give rise to the exchange coupling J, the interaction is instantaneous on the relative time scales of interest. In this case, while one might speak of an "instantaneous glue", this interaction differs from the traditional picture of a retarded pairing interaction. However, if the energies correspond to the spectrum seen in the dynamic spin susceptibility, then the interaction is retarded and one speaks of a spin-fluctuation glue which mediates the d-wave pairing. Here we present results from numerical studies which provide insight into this question.

cond-mat.supr-con↗

arXiv2007

Diamagnetism of doped two-leg ladders and probing the nature of their commensurate phases

We study the magnetic orbital effect of a doped two-leg ladder in the presence of a magnetic field component perpendicular to the ladder plane. Combining both low-energy approach (bosonization) and numerical simulations (density-matrix renormalization group) on the strong coupling limit (t-J model), a rich phase diagram is established as a function of hole doping and magnetic flux. Above a critical flux, the spin gap is destroyed and a Luttinger liquid phase is stabilized. Above a second critical flux, a reentrance of the spin gap at high magnetic flux is found. Interestingly, the phase transitions are associated with a change of sign of the orbital susceptibility. Focusing on the small magnetic field regime, the spin-gapped superconducting phase is robust but immediately acquires algebraic transverse (i.e. along rungs) current correlations which are commensurate with the 4k_F density correlations. In addition, we have computed the zero-field orbital susceptibility for a large range of doping and interactions ratio J/t : we found strong anomalies at low J/t only in the vicinity of the commensurate fillings corresponding to delta = 1/4 and 1/2. Furthermore, the behavior of the orbital susceptibility reveals that the nature of these insulating phases is different: while for delta = 1/4 a 4k_F charge density wave is confirmed, the delta = 1/2 phase is shown to be a bond order wave.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Generic mixed columnar-plaquette phases in Rokhsar-Kivelson models

We revisit the phase diagram of Rokhsar-Kivelson models, which are used in fields such as superconductivity, frustrated magnetism, cold bosons, and the physics of Josephson junction arrays. From an extended height effective theory, we show that one of two simple generic phase diagrams contains a mixed phase that interpolates continuously between columnar and plaquette states. For the square lattice quantum dimer model we present evidence from exact diagonalization and Green's function Monte Carlo techniques that this scenario is realised, by combining an analysis of the excitation gaps of different symmetry sectors with information on plaquette structure factors. This presents a natural framework for resolving the disagreement between previous studies.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Phase separation and flux quantization in the doped quantum dimer model on the square and triangular lattices

The doped two-dimensional quantum dimer model is investigated by numerical techniques on the square and triangular lattices, with significantly different results. On the square lattice, at small enough doping, there is always a phase separation between an insulating valence-bond solid and a uniform superfluid phase, whereas on the triangular lattice, doping leads directly to a uniform superfluid in a large portion of the RVB phase. Under an applied Aharonov-Bohm flux, the superfluid exhibits quantization in terms of half-flux quanta, consistent with Q=2e elementary charge quanta in transport properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Bosonization and density-matrix renormalization group studies of Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phase and irrational magnetization plateaus in coupled chains

We review the properties of two coupled fermionic chains, or ladders, under a magnetic field parallel to the lattice plane. Results are computed by complementary analytical (bosonization) and numerical (density-matrix renormalization group) methods which allows a systematic comparison. Limiting cases such as coupled bands and coupled chains regimes are discussed. We particularly focus on the evolution of the superconducting correlations under increasing field and on the presence of irrational magnetization plateaus. We found the existence of large doping-dependent magnetization plateaus in the weakly-interacting and strong-coupling limits and in the non-trivial case of isotropic couplings. We report on the existence of extended Fulde-Ferrell-Larkin-Ovchinnikov phases within the isotropic t-J and Hubbard models, deduced from the evolution of different observables under magnetic field. Emphasis is put on the variety of superconducting order parameters present at high magnetic field. We have also computed the evolution of the Luttinger exponent corresponding to the ungaped spin mode appearing at finite magnetization. In the coupled chain regime, the possibility of having polarized triplet pairing under high field is predicted by bosonization.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Breathers and Raman scattering in a two-leg ladder with staggered Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interaction

Recent experiments have revealed the role of staggered Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interaction in the magnetized phase of an antiferromagnetic spin 1/2 two-leg ladder compound under a uniform magnetic field. We derive a low energy effective field theory describing a magnetized two-leg ladder with a weak staggered Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interaction. This theory predicts the persistence of the spin gap in the magnetized phase, in contrast to standard two-leg ladders, and the presence of bound states in the excitation spectrum. Such bound states are observable in Raman scattering measurements. These results are then extended to intermediate Dzialoshinskii-Moriya interaction using Exact Diagonalizations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

Criticality of a classical dimer model on the triangular lattice

We consider a classical interacting dimer model which interpolates between the square lattice case and the triangular lattice case by tuning a chemical potential in the diagonal bonds. The interaction energy simply corresponds to the number of plaquettes with parallel dimers. Using transfer matrix calculations, we find in the anisotropic triangular case a succession of different physical phases as the interaction strength is increased: a short range disordered liquid dimer phase at low interactions, then a critical phase similar to the one found for the square lattice, and finally a transition to an ordered columnar phase for large interactions. The existence of the critical phase is in contrast with the belief that criticality for dimer models is ascribed to bipartiteness. For the isotropic triangular case, we have indications that the system undergoes a first order phase transition to an ordered phase, without appearance of an intermediate critical phase.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗