Phonon dynamics in the diluted Kitaev spin liquid

The Kitaev honeycomb model provides a paradigmatic example of an exactly solvable quantum spin liquid, in which the spin degrees of freedom fractionalize into itinerant Majorana fermions coupled to a static background of Z₂ gauge fluxes. This model has attracted significant attention in recent years due to the possibility of its experimental realization in some spin-orbit Mott insulators such as αRuCl₃. Among various experimental probes, ultrasound experiments measuring sound attenuation have emerged as a promising avenue to unveil the fractionalization of spins in these materials. Yet, candidate materials often deviate from the ideal Kitaev model due to disorder, like vacancies, leading to the emergence of localized modes governing low-energy physics. To provide further insight into the effects of these vacancy-induced modes on the phonon dynamics, we calculate the sound attenuation coefficient in the diluted Kitaev honeycomb model with an applied magnetic field, which breaks time-reversal symmetry. In order to obtain a more accurate perspective on the temperature-dependent sound attenuation in this model, we also examine the impact of thermally excited fluxes in the disordered system.