- Letter
Topology and ferrimagnetism intertwining via weak interactions in Lieb lattices
Phys. Rev. A 113, L031304 – Published 16 March, 2026
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/6vs5-12cp
Abstract
Typically, quantum phases of many-body systems fit either the Landau-Ginzburg paradigm or topological classifications, with the intertwined emergence of spontaneous symmetry breaking and topological order being experimentally challenging. We present an experimentally accessible spin-orbit-coupled Lieb lattice platform for magnetic topological states. Remarkably, we observe topological characteristics, quantified by Chern number and Bott index, coexisting with spontaneous symmetry-breaking orders (like ferrimagnetism) in the many-body ground states. Computational analyses reveal a pronounced parameter regime where magnetic topological insulators emerge even under weak interactions. This unconventional coexistence stems from the Lieb lattice's unique band structure, enabling synergy between interaction-driven symmetry breaking and spin-orbit coupling-induced band inversion. Crucially, spin polarization and spin winding coemerge as coupled phenomena originating from identical degrees of freedom. We propose an implementation using ultracold atoms with existing Raman lattice techniques. Our findings pave the way for exploring the interplay between symmetry-broken states and topological order in strongly correlated systems.