Physics of the Kitaev model: fractionalization, dynamical correlations,
and material connections
and material connections
File(s)
Accepted version
Author(s)
Hermanns, Maria
Kimchi, Itamar
Knolle, Johannes
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
Quantum spin liquids have fascinated condensed matter physicists for decades
because of their unusual properties such as spin fractionalization and
long-range entanglement. Unlike conventional symmetry breaking the topological
order underlying quantum spin liquids is hard to detect experimentally. Even
theoretical models are scarce for which the ground state is established to be a
quantum spin liquid. The Kitaev honeycomb model and its generalizations to
other tri-coordinated lattices are chief counterexamples --- they are exactly
solvable, harbor a variety of quantum spin liquid phases, and are also relevant
for certain transition metal compounds including the polymorphs of
(Na,Li)$_2$IrO$_3$ Iridates and RuCl$_3$. In this review, we give an overview
of the rich physics of the Kitaev model, including 2D and 3D fractionalization
as well as dynamical correlations and behavior at finite temperatures. We
discuss the different materials, and argue how the Kitaev model physics can be
relevant even though most materials show magnetic ordering at low temperatures.
because of their unusual properties such as spin fractionalization and
long-range entanglement. Unlike conventional symmetry breaking the topological
order underlying quantum spin liquids is hard to detect experimentally. Even
theoretical models are scarce for which the ground state is established to be a
quantum spin liquid. The Kitaev honeycomb model and its generalizations to
other tri-coordinated lattices are chief counterexamples --- they are exactly
solvable, harbor a variety of quantum spin liquid phases, and are also relevant
for certain transition metal compounds including the polymorphs of
(Na,Li)$_2$IrO$_3$ Iridates and RuCl$_3$. In this review, we give an overview
of the rich physics of the Kitaev model, including 2D and 3D fractionalization
as well as dynamical correlations and behavior at finite temperatures. We
discuss the different materials, and argue how the Kitaev model physics can be
relevant even though most materials show magnetic ordering at low temperatures.
Date Issued
2017-10-20
Date Acceptance
2017-10-20
Citation
Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics, 2017, 9
ISSN
1947-5454
Publisher
Annual Reviews
Journal / Book Title
Annual Review of Condensed Matter Physics
Volume
9
Copyright Statement
Copyright © 2018, Annual Reviews
Identifier
http://arxiv.org/abs/1705.01740v1
Subjects
cond-mat.str-el
cond-mat.str-el
Notes
22 pages, 3 figures. Manuscript for Annual Reviews
Publication Status
Published online