Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation
  • Letter

Spin transport in a quantum spin orbital liquid

Zekun Zhuang1 and J. B. Marston1,2

  • 1Department of Physics, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912-1843, USA
  • 2Brown Theoretical Physics Center, Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island 02912-1843, USA

Phys. Rev. B 104, L060403 – Published 4 August, 2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.104.L060403

Abstract

Quantum spin orbital liquids (QSOLs) are a novel phase of matter, similar to quantum spin liquids, with quantum fluctuations in both spin and orbital degrees of freedom. We use nonequilibrium Green's function theory to study out-of-equilibrium spin transport in an exactly solvable QSOL model put forward by Yao and Lee. We find that the spin transport problem can be mapped to that of a free fermion problem with effective fermionic baths that have a rapidly varying density of states. In the gapless phase, the spin current Is−Vs relation is thus highly nonlinear, while in the chiral gapped phase, the spin current conductance is quantized to be 1/2π provided that the contacts are sufficiently wide. The quantized conductance is a signature of the topological nature of the chiral gapped QSOL.

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Authorization Required

We need you to provide your credentials before accessing this content.

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

References (Subscription Required)

Outline

Information

Sign In to Your Journals Account

Filter

Filter

Article Lookup

Enter a citation