• Rapid Communication

Quantum spin circulator in Y junctions of Heisenberg chains

Francesco Buccheri, Reinhold Egger, Rodrigo G. Pereira, and Flávia B. Ramos
Phys. Rev. B 97, 220402(R) – Published 11 June 2018
PDFHTMLExport Citation

Abstract

We show that a quantum spin circulator, a nonreciprocal device that routes spin currents without any charge transport, can be achieved in Y junctions of identical spin-1/2 Heisenberg chains coupled by a chiral three-spin interaction. Using bosonization, boundary conformal field theory, and density matrix renormalization group simulations, we find that a chiral fixed point with maximally asymmetric spin conductance arises at a critical point separating a regime of disconnected chains from a spin-only version of the three-channel Kondo effect. We argue that networks of spin-chain Y junctions provide a controllable approach to construct long-sought chiral spin-liquid phases.

  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Figure
  • Received 14 January 2018

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.97.220402

©2018 American Physical Society

Physics Subject Headings (PhySH)

Condensed Matter, Materials & Applied Physics

Authors & Affiliations

Francesco Buccheri1, Reinhold Egger1, Rodrigo G. Pereira2, and Flávia B. Ramos2

  • 1Institut für Theoretische Physik, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, D-40225 Düsseldorf, Germany
  • 2International Institute of Physics, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Campus Universitario, Lagoa Nova, Natal-RN 59078-970, Brazil

Article Text (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

Supplemental Material (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand

References (Subscription Required)

Click to Expand
Issue

Vol. 97, Iss. 22 — 1 June 2018

Reuse & Permissions
Access Options
Author publication services for translation and copyediting assistance advertisement

Authorization Required


×
×

Images

×

Sign up to receive regular email alerts from Physical Review B

Log In

Cancel
×

Search


Article Lookup

Paste a citation or DOI

Enter a citation
×