English

Dirac's "magnetic monopole" in pyrochlore ice U(1) spin liquids: Spectrum and classification

Strongly Correlated Electrons 2017-11-22 v2 Materials Science

Abstract

We study the U(1) quantum spin liquid on the pyrochlore spin ice systems. For the non-Kramers doublets such as Pr3+^{3+} and Tb3+^{3+}, we point out that the inelastic neutron scattering not only detects the low-energy gauge photon, but also contains the continuum of the "magnetic monopole" excitations. Unlike the spinons, these "magnetic monopoles" are purely of quantum origin and have no classical analogue. We further point out that the "magnetic monopole" experiences a background dual "π\pi" flux due to the spin-1/2 nature of the local moment when the "monopole" hops on the dual diamond lattice. We then predict that the "monopole" continuum has an enhanced spectral periodicity. This prediction can be examined among the existing data on the non-Kramers doublet spin liquid candidate materials like Pr2_2TM2_2O7_7 and Tb2_2TM2_2O7_7 (with TM = "transition metal"). The application to the Kramers doublet systems and numerical simulation is further discussed. Finally, we present a general classification of distinct symmetry enriched U(1) quantum spin liquids based on the translation symmetry fractionalization patterns of "monopoles" and "spinons".

Keywords

Cite

@article{arxiv.1706.04333,
  title  = {Dirac's "magnetic monopole" in pyrochlore ice U(1) spin liquids: Spectrum and classification},
  author = {Gang Chen},
  journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:1706.04333},
  year   = {2017}
}

Comments

8 pages, 2 figures, 2 tables, update title, small correction