Dynamics of vacancy-induced modes in the non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid

Kao, Wen-Han; Halász, Gábor B.; Perkins, Natalia B.

doi:10.1103/physrevb.109.125150

Dynamics of vacancy-induced modes in the non-Abelian Kitaev spin liquid

Journal Article · Fri Mar 29 00:00:00 EDT 2024 · Physical Review. B

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/physrevb.109.125150· OSTI ID:2372994

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Univ. of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (United States)
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Quantum Science Center

Here, we study the dynamical response of vacancy-induced quasiparticle excitations in the site-diluted Kitaev spin liquid with a magnetic field. Due to the flux-binding effect and the emergence of dangling Majorana fermions around each spin vacancy, the low-energy physics is governed by a set of vacancy-induced quasi-zero-energy modes. These localized modes result in unique characteristics of the dynamical spin correlation functions, which intriguingly mimic the single-quasiparticle density of states and further exhibit a quasi-zero-frequency peak. By recognizing the potential observability of these local correlation functions via scanning tunneling microscopy (STM), we show how the STM response is sensitive to the local flux configuration, the magnetic field strength, and the vacancy concentration. Constructing a simple model of the localized modes, we also elucidate how the local correlation functions can be interpreted in terms of the hybridization between these modes.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE; USDOE Office of Science (SC)

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-00OR22725

OSTI ID:: 2372994

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2331341

Journal Information:: Physical Review. B, Journal Name: Physical Review. B Journal Issue: 12 Vol. 109; ISSN 2469-9950

Publisher:: American Physical Society (APS)Copyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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