arXiv subjects

Yao Dong Li

Publications and source records attributed to Yao Dong Li.

5 recordsLinked to original sources

arXiv2020

Pyrochlore U(1) spin liquid of mixed symmetry enrichments in magnetic fields

We point out the experimental relevance and the detection scheme of symmetry enriched U(1) quantum spin liquids (QSLs) outside the perturbative spin-ice regime. Recent experiments on Ce-based pyrochlore QSL materials suggest that the candidate QSL may not be proximate to the well-known spin ice regime, and thus differs fundamentally from other pyrochlore QSL materials. We consider the possibility of the $π$-flux U(1) QSL favored by frustrated transverse exchange interactions rather than the usual quantum spin ice. It was previously suggested that both dipolar U(1) QSL and octupolar U(1) QSL can be realized for the generic spin model for the dipole-octupole doublets of the Ce$^{3+}$ local moments on the pyrochlore magnets Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ and Ce$_2$Zr$_2$O$_7$. We explain and predict the experimental signatures especially the magnetic field response of the octupolar $π$-flux U(1) QSL. Fundamentally, this remarkable state is a mixture of symmetry enrichments from point group symmetry and from translational symmetry. We discuss the relevant experiments for pyrochlore U(1) QSLs and further provide some insights to the pyrochlore Heisenberg model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2019

Non-Kitaev spin liquids in Kitaev materials

We point out that the Kitaev materials may not necessarily support Kitaev spin liquid. It is well-known that having a Kitaev term in the spin interaction is not the sufficient condition for the Kitaev spin liquid ground state. Many other spin liquids may be stabilized by the competing spin interactions of the systems. We thus explore the possibilities of non-Kitaev spin liquids in the honeycomb Kitaev materials. We carry out a systematic classification of gapped $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquids using the Schwinger boson representation for the spin variables. The presence of strong spin-orbit coupling in the Kitaev materials brings new ingredients into the projective symmetry group classification of the non-Kitaev spin liquid. We predict the spectroscopic properties of these gapped non-Kitaev spin liquids. Moreover, among the gapped spin liquids that we discover, we identify the spin liquid whose spinon condensation leads to the magnetic Bragg peak structure of the zig-zag magnetic order that was observed in Na$_2$IrO$_3$ and $α$-RuCl$_3$. We further discuss the possibility of gapped $\mathbb{Z}_2$ spin liquid and the deconfined quantum criticality from the zig-zag magnetic order to spin dimerization in pressurized $α$-RuCl$_3$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

The Spinon Fermi Surface U(1) Spin Liquid in a Spin-Orbit-Coupled Triangular Lattice Mott Insulator YbMgGaO4

Motivated by the recent progress on the spin-orbit-coupled triangular lattice spin liquid candidate YbMgGaO4, we carry out a systematic projective symmetry group analysis and mean-field study of candidate U(1) spin liquid ground states. Due to the spin-orbital entanglement of the Yb moments, the space group symmetry operation transforms both the position and the orientation of the local moments, and hence brings different features for the projective realization of the lattice symmetries from the cases with spin-only moments. Among the eight U(1) spin liquids that we find with the fermionic parton construction, only one spin liquid state, that was proposed and analyzed in Yao Shen, et al, Nature 540, 559-562 (2016) and labeled as U1A00 in the present work, stands out and gives a large spinon Fermi surface and provides a consistent explanation for the spectroscopic results in YbMgGaO4. Further connection of this spinon Fermi surface U(1) spin liquid with YbMgGaO4 and the future directions are discussed. Finally, our results may apply to other spin-orbit-coupled triangular lattice spin liquid candidates, and more broadly, our general approach can be well extended to spin-orbit-coupled spin liquid candidate materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Detecting spin fractionalization in a spinon Fermi surface spin liquid

Motivated by the recent proposal of the spinon Fermi surface spin liquids for several candidate materials such as YbMgGaO4, we explore the experimental consequences of the external magnetic fields on this exotic state. Specifically, we focus on the weak field regime where the spin liquid state is well preserved and the spinon remain to be a good description of the magnetic excitations. From the spin-1/2 nature of the spinon excitation, we predict the unique features of the spinon continuum when the weak magnetic field is applied to the system. Due to the small energy scale of the exchange interactions between the local moments in the spin liquid candidate like YbMgGaO4, our proposal for the spectral weight shifts and spectral crossing in the magnetic fields can be immediately tested by inelastic neutron scattering experiments. Several other experimental aspects about the spinon Fermi surface and the spinon excitations are discussed and proposed. Our work provides an experimental scheme to examine the fractionalized spinon excitation and the candidate spin liquid states in YbMgGaO4, the 6H-B phase of Ba3NiSb2O9 and other relevant materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

Symmetry Enriched U(1) Topological Orders for Dipole-Octupole Doublets on a Pyrochlore Lattice

Symmetry plays a fundamental role in our understanding of both conventional symmetry breaking phases and the more exotic quantum and topological phases of matter. We explore the experimental signatures of symmetry enriched U(1) quantum spin liquids (QSLs) on the pyrochlore lattice. We point out that the Ce local moment of the newly discovered pyrochlore QSL candidate Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$, is a dipole-octupole doublet. The generic model for these unusual doublets supports two distinct symmetry enriched U(1) QSL ground states in the corresponding quantum spin ice regimes. These two U(1) QSLs are dubbed dipolar U(1) QSL and octupolar U(1) QSL. While the dipolar U(1) QSL has been discussed in many contexts, the octupolar U(1) QSL is rather unique. Based on the symmetry properties of the dipole-octupole doublets, we predict the peculiar physical properties of the octupolar U(1) QSL, elucidating the unique spectroscopic properties in the externalmagnetic fields. We further predict the Anderson-Higgs transition from the octupolar U(1) QSL driven by the external magnetic fields. We identify the experimental relevance with the candidate material Ce$_2$Sn$_2$O$_7$ and other dipole-octupole doublet systems.

cond-mat.str-el↗