Yasir Iqbal

Bio: Yasir Iqbal is an academic researcher from Indian Institute of Technology Madras. The author has contributed to research in topics: Quantum spin liquid & Heisenberg model. The author has an hindex of 18, co-authored 48 publications receiving 1119 citations. Previous affiliations of Yasir Iqbal include University of Würzburg & University of Toulouse.

Gapless spin-liquid phase in the kagome spin- 1 2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Abstract: We study the energy and the static spin structure factor of the ground state of the spin-$1/2$ quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnetic model on the kagome lattice. By the iterative application of a few Lanczos steps on accurate projected fermionic wave functions and the Green's function Monte Carlo technique, we find that a gapless (algebraic) $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid is competitive with previously proposed gapped (topological) ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquids. By performing a finite-size extrapolation of the ground-state energy, we obtain an energy per site $E/J=\ensuremath{-}0.4365(2)$, which is equal, within three error bars, to the estimates given by the density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG). Our estimate is obtained for a translationally invariant system, and, therefore, does not suffer from boundary effects, like in DMRG. Moreover, on finite toric clusters at the pure variational level, our energies are lower compared to those from DMRG calculations.

Spin liquid nature in the Heisenberg J 1 − J 2 triangular antiferromagnet

Abstract: The search for unconventional phases of matter, such as quantum spin liquids (QSL), is one of the fundamental and most debated issues in condensed matter physics. While gapped spin liquids have been widely studied and are now accepted to exist in nature, the existence and stability of gapless spin liquids is more controversial. The authors present their analysis of the frustrated antiferromagnetic spin model on a triangular lattice, which has been suggested very recently as a platform to host QSLs. They use a combination of several numerical techniques to show that a gapless spin liquid, which can be described via emergent interacting Dirac fermions, proves to be an excellent candidate ground state to describe the frustrated regime for the spin model.

Projected wave function study of Z 2 spin liquids on the kagome lattice for the spin- 1 2 quantum Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Abstract: Motivated by recent density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculations [Yan, Huse, and White, Science 332, 1173 (2011)], which claimed that the ground state of the nearest-neighbor spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the kagome lattice geometry is a fully gapped spin liquid with numerical signatures of ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ gauge structure, and a further theoretical work [Lu, Ran, and Lee, Phys. Rev. B 83, 224413 (2011)], which gave a classification of all Schwinger-fermion mean-field fully symmetric ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquids on the kagome lattice, we have thoroughly studied Gutzwiller-projected fermionic wave functions by using quantum variational Monte Carlo techniques, hence implementing exactly the constraint of one fermion per site. In particular, we investigated the energetics of all ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ candidates (gapped and gapless) that lie in the neighborhood of the energetically competitive U(1) gapless spin liquids. By using a state-of-the-art optimization method, we were able to conclusively show that the U(1) Dirac state is remarkably stable with respect to all ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}$ spin liquids in its neighborhood, and in particular for opening a gap toward the so-called ${\mathbb{Z}}_{2}[0,\ensuremath{\pi}]\ensuremath{\beta}$ state, which was conjectured to describe the ground state obtained by the DMRG method. Finally, we also considered the addition of a small second nearest-neighbor exchange coupling of both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic type, and obtained similar results, namely, a U(1) Dirac spin-liquid ground state.

Vanishing spin gap in a competing spin-liquid phase in the kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet

Abstract: We provide strong numerical evidence, using improved variational wave functions, for a ground state with vanishing spin gap in the spin-$1/2$ quantum Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice. Starting from the algebraic $U(1)$ Dirac spin liquid state proposed by Ran et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 117205 (2007)] and iteratively applying a few Lanczos steps, we compute the lowest $S=2$ excitation constructed by exciting spinons close to the Dirac nodes. Our results are compatible with a vanishing spin gap in the thermodynamic limit and in consonance with a power-law decay of long distance spin-spin correlations in real space. The competition with a gapped (topological) spin liquid is discussed.

Nature of Unconventional Pairing in the Kagome Superconductors A V 3 Sb 5 ( A = K , Rb , Cs )

Abstract: The recent discovery of $A{\mathrm{V}}_{3}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{5}$ ($A=\mathrm{K},\mathrm{Rb},\mathrm{Cs}$) has uncovered an intriguing arena for exotic Fermi surface instabilities in a kagome metal. Among them, superconductivity is found in the vicinity of multiple van Hove singularities, exhibiting indications of unconventional pairing. We show that the sublattice interference mechanism is central to understanding the formation of superconductivity in a kagome metal. Starting from an appropriately chosen minimal tight-binding model with multiple van Hove singularities close to the Fermi level for $A{\mathrm{V}}_{3}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{5}$, we provide a random phase approximation analysis of superconducting instabilities. Nonlocal Coulomb repulsion, the sublattice profile of the van Hove bands, and the interaction strength turn out to be the crucial parameters to determine the preferred pairing symmetry. Implications for potentially topological surface states are discussed, along with a proposal for additional measurements to pin down the nature of superconductivity in $A{\mathrm{V}}_{3}{\mathrm{Sb}}_{5}$.

Quantum Spin Liquids

Abstract: Quantum spin liquids may be considered "quantum disordered" ground states of spin systems, in which zero point fluctuations are so strong that they prevent conventional magnetic long range order. More interestingly, quantum spin liquids are prototypical examples of ground states with massive many-body entanglement, of a degree sufficient to render these states distinct phases of matter. Their highly entangled nature imbues quantum spin liquids with unique physical aspects, such as non-local excitations, topological properties, and more. In this review, we discuss the nature of such phases and their properties based on paradigmatic models and general arguments, and introduce theoretical technology such as gauge theory and partons that are conveniently used in the study of quantum spin liquids. An overview is given of the different types of quantum spin liquids and the models and theories used to describe them. We also provide a guide to the current status of experiments to study quantum spin liquids, and to the diverse probes used therein.

Quantum spin liquids: a review.

Abstract: Quantum spin liquids may be considered 'quantum disordered' ground states of spin systems, in which zero-point fluctuations are so strong that they prevent conventional magnetic long-range order. More interestingly, quantum spin liquids are prototypical examples of ground states with massive many-body entanglement, which is of a degree sufficient to render these states distinct phases of matter. Their highly entangled nature imbues quantum spin liquids with unique physical aspects, such as non-local excitations, topological properties, and more. In this review, we discuss the nature of such phases and their properties based on paradigmatic models and general arguments, and introduce theoretical technology such as gauge theory and partons, which are conveniently used in the study of quantum spin liquids. An overview is given of the different types of quantum spin liquids and the models and theories used to describe them. We also provide a guide to the current status of experiments in relation to study quantum spin liquids, and to the diverse probes used therein.

Quantum spin liquid states

Abstract: This is an introductory review of the physics of quantum spin liquid states. Quantum magnetism is a rapidly evolving field, and recent developments reveal that the ground states and low-energy physics of frustrated spin systems may develop many exotic behaviors once we leave the regime of semiclassical approaches. The purpose of this article is to introduce these developments. The article begins by explaining how semiclassical approaches fail once quantum mechanics become important and then describe the alternative approaches for addressing the problem. Mainly spin-1/2 systems are discussed, and most of the time is spent in this article on one particular set of plausible spin liquid states in which spins are represented by fermions. These states are spin-singlet states and may be viewed as an extension of Fermi liquid states to Mott insulators, and they are usually classified in the category of so-called SU(2), U(1), or Z2 spin liquid states. A review is given of the basic theory regarding these states and the extensions of these states to include the effect of spin-orbit coupling and to higher spin (S>1/2) systems. Two other important approaches with strong influences on the understanding of spin liquid states are also introduced: (i) matrix product states and projected entangled pair states and (ii) the Kitaev honeycomb model. Experimental progress concerning spin liquid states in realistic materials, including anisotropic triangular-lattice systems [κ-(ET)2Cu2(CN)3 and EtMe3Sb[Pd(dmit)2]2], kagome-lattice system [ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2], and hyperkagome lattice system (Na4Ir3O8), is reviewed and compared against the corresponding theories.