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Physics of the Kitaev model: fractionalization, dynamical correlations, and material connections

Accepted version
Peer-reviewed

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Authors

Hermanns, Maria 
Kimchi, Itamar 

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)2IrO3 Iridates and RuCl3. 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.

Description

Keywords

cond-mat.str-el, cond-mat.str-el

Journal Title

Annu. Rev. Condens. Matter Phys.

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1947-5454
1947-5462

Volume Title

9

Publisher

Annual Reviews
Sponsorship
European Commission Horizon 2020 (H2020) Marie Sk?odowska-Curie actions (703697)