Deconfined quantum criticality in SU(3) antiferromagnets on the triangular lattice

2017/03/31 by Dimitri Pimenov, Matthias Punk
Mathematics · Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Antiferromagnetism #Condensed matter physics #Critical exponent #Critical phenomena #Critical point (mathematics) #Hexagonal lattice #Ising model #Mathematics #Phase (matter) #Phase diagram #Phase transition #Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Quantum #Quantum critical point #Quantum mechanics #Quantum phase transition #Renormalization group #Square lattice #Theoretical and Computational Physics #Valence bond theory #cond-mat.str-el

paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.95.184427

published as Phys. Rev. B 95, 184427 (2017) · 15 pages, 10 figures, updated references

openalex publication_date 2017/05/25 · arxiv created 2017/05/26 · arxiv updated 2017/05/29 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/08/05

Abstract

We propose field theories for a deconfined quantum critical point in SU(3) antiferromagnets on the triangular lattice. In particular we consider the continuous transition between a magnetic, three-sublattice color-ordered phase and a trimerized SU(3) singlet phase. Starting from the magnetically ordered state we derive a critical theory in terms of fractional bosonic degrees of freedom, in close analogy to the well-developed description of the SU(2) N'eel---valence bond solid (VBS) transition on the square lattice. Our critical theory consists of three coupled CP² models and we study its fixed point structure using a functional renormalization group approach in a suitable large N limit. We find a stable critical fixed point and estimate its critical exponents, thereby providing an example of deconfined criticality beyond the universality class of the CP^N model. In addition we present a complementary route towards the critical field theory by studying topological defects of the trimerized SU(3) singlet phase.

Citations

• Quantum criticality beyond the Landau-Ginzburg-Wilson paradigm
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• Lieb-Schultz-Mattis in higher dimensions
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• Two soluble models of an antiferromagnetic chain