Quantum stabilization of 1/3 magnetization plateau in Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$.

ORAL

Abstract

We consider the phase diagram of a spatially anisotropic 2D triangular antiferromagnet in a magnetic field. Classically, the ground state is umbrella-like for all fields, but we show that the quantum phase diagram is much richer and contains a 1/3 magnetization plateau, two commensurate planar states, two incommensurate chiral umbrella phases, and, possibly, a spin density wave state separating the two chiral phases. Our analysis sheds light on several recent experimental findings for the spin-1/2 system Cs$_2$CuCl$_4$.

Authors

  • Oleg Starykh

    University of Utah, Salt Lake City, University of Utah

  • Jason Alicea

    Caltech, California Institute of Technology

  • Andrey Chubukov

    University of Wisconsin, Department of Physics, University of Wisconsin-Madison