Export citation

Export citation

Choose format for download:

Download Citation

    Higgs criticality of Dirac spin liquids on depleted triangular lattices

    Andreas Feuerpfeil1,2,*, Atanu Maity1, Ronny Thomale1,3, Yasir Iqbal3, and Subir Sachdev4,2,†

    • *Contact author: andreas.feuerpfeil@uni-wuerzburg.de
    • †Contact author: sachdev@g.harvard.edu

    Phys. Rev. B 114, 094411 – Published 7 August, 2026

    DOI: https://doi.org/10.1103/nm1n-y5np

    Abstract

    We investigate Higgs criticality in candidate U(1) Dirac spin liquids across a family of depleted triangular lattices: the triangular, kagome, and maple-leaf geometries. For each, we identify the symmetry-allowed spinon-pairing channel connecting the U(1) state to a proximate Z2 spin liquid, deriving the corresponding quantum electrodynamics (QED3)-Higgs theory. While the triangular and kagome lattices share a low-energy description with Nf=4 Dirac fermions, the maple-leaf lattice yields an analogous theory with Nf=12 and a distinct nodal structure where the Dirac cones can move along high-symmetry lines in momentum space instead of gapping out. Using a large-Nf,b expansion, we compute critical exponents and the scaling dimensions of the symmetry-allowed Yukawa couplings. Although Higgs-field fluctuations and a large fermion flavor number strongly suppress the Yukawa coupling—pushing the maple-leaf lattice closer to stability than its counterparts—we find that the coupling remains relevant at leading order in all three cases, substantially reducing its scaling dimension on the maple-leaf lattice and asymptotically breaking Lorentz and conformal invariance. Ultimately, our results provide a unified framework demonstrating how the interplay between fermion flavor count and nodal geometry dictates the fate of the QED3-Higgs transition.

    Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

    Authorization Required

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

    References (Subscription Required)

    Outline

    Information

    Sign In to Your Journals Account

    Filter

    Filter

    Article Lookup

    Enter a citation