A Quantum Dipolar Spin Liquid

ORAL

Abstract

Quantum spin liquids are a new class of magnetic ground state in which spins are quantum mechanically entangled over macroscopic scales. Motivated by recent advances in the control of polar molecules, we show that dipolar interactions between S=1/2 moments stabilize spin liquids on the triangular and kagome lattices. In the latter case, the moments spontaneously break time-reversal, forming a chiral spin liquid with robust edge modes and emergent semions. We propose a simple route toward synthesizing a dipolar Heisenberg antiferromagnet from lattice-trapped polar molecules using only a single pair of rotational states and a constant electric field.

Authors

  • Norman Yao

    Department of Physics, UC Berkeley

  • Michael Zalatel

    Station Q, Microsoft Research, Station Q, Microsoft Research, Santa Barbara, Station Q

  • Dan Stamper-Kurn

    Department of Physics, UC Berkeley, Univ of California - Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

  • Ashvin Vishwanath

    University of California, Berkeley, Department of Physics, UC Berkeley, Univ of California - Berkeley, University of California, Berkeley; Materials Science Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratories, Berkeley, UC Berkeley