Numerical simulation of quantum spin systems and experimental optimization

In neutron scattering experiments, materials such as herbertsmithite have demonstrated promising spin liquid behavior. Herbertsmithite has magnetically isolated interstitial layers of spins in a kagome lattice structure. This motivates studying quantum spin liquids on the two-dimensional kagome lattice. Spin liquids have previously been identified in multiple Hamiltonians on the kagome lattice, including in the Heisenberg limit. It is an interesting question whether these various spin liquids are part of a single connected phase. If so, this would help identify an additional class of Hamiltonians that support spin liquids as well as help resolve a controversy about the identity of the S=1/2 kagome Heisenberg antiferromagnet (KHA) spin liquid. Using numerical calculations, we want to observe if there is a phase transition between these various spin liquids; the absence of such a transition would verify that the two spin liquids are the same. This will be accomplished by changing the parameters of one Hamiltonian to the other and observing any change in phase with its states.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph.D.

Level thesis:degree_level

Dissertation

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Physics

Grantor

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Year dc:date

2024

Author dc:creator

• Germany, Chad

Contributors dc:contributor

• Clark, Bryan
• Phillips, Phillip
• MacDougall, Gregory
• Peng, Jen-Chieh

• Hamiltonian
• Spin Liquids
• Heisenberg
• Antiferromagnet
• Phase Transition
• Numerical Calculations.

Statement dc:rights

• Copyright 2024 Chad Germany

Language dc:language

en, eng

Handle dc:identifier

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/127406

OAI record oai:identifier

https://www.ideals.illinois.edu/oai-pmh?verb=GetRecord&metadataPrefix=etdms&identifier=oai%3Awww.ideals.illinois.edu%3A2142%2F127406