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Title: Frustrated Kondo impurity triangle: A simple model of deconfinement

Journal Article · · Physical Review. B
ORCiD logo [1];  [2];  [3]
  1. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States); Max Planck Institute for Solid State Research, Stuttgart (Germany)
  2. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States); Univ. of London (United Kingdom)
  3. Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States)

We report that the concepts of deconfinement and topological order are of great current interest for quantum information science and for our understanding of quantum materials. Here, we introduce a simple model of three antiferromagnetically coupled Kondo impurities, a Kondo triangle, which can be used to further extend the application of these concepts to electronic systems. We show that, by tuning the magnetic frustration, the Kondo triangle undergoes a quantum phase transition between two phases of unbroken symmetry, signaling a phase transition beyond the Landau paradigm. We demonstrate that the frustrated spin liquid phase is described by a three-channel Kondo (3CK) fixed point and thus displays an irrational ground state degeneracy. Using an Abrikosov pseudofermion representation, this quantum state is categorized by an emergent U(1) gauge field and its projective symmetry group. The gauge theory is deconfining in the sense that a miniature Wilson loop orders and topological defects (instantons in the gauge field) are expelled. This phase persists in the presence of moderate Kondo screening until proliferation of topological defects leads to a quantum phase transition to an unfrustrated Fermi liquid phase. Based on this evidence, we propose that the 3CK phase displays topological order in a similar sense as gapless spin liquids.

Research Organization:
Rutgers Univ., Piscataway, NJ (United States)
Sponsoring Organization:
USDOE Office of Science (SC), Basic Energy Sciences (BES); National Science Foundation (NSF)
Grant/Contract Number:
FG02-99ER45790; DMR-1830707
OSTI ID:
1850215
Journal Information:
Physical Review. B, Vol. 104, Issue 11; ISSN 2469-9950
Publisher:
American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English

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