The spin - 1/2 Heisenberg model on Kagome lattice as a quantum critical system

Understand

Through exact diagonalization study of the spin - 1/2 Heisenberg model on Kagome lattice with ring-exchange coupling $J_{r}$, we find the pure Heisenberg model with $J_{r}=0$ stands as a quantum critical point, as evidenced by avoided level crossing and divergence of the second derivative of the ground state energy with respect to $J_{r}$ at $J_{r}=0$.

• The pure Heisenberg model should thus be gapless in the thermodynamic limit, contrary to common beliefs.
• At the same time, the ring exchange coupling is found to drive the system into a state with more short ranged spin correlation and with a local spin correlation pattern equivalent to that of the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on triangular lattice(the peak of spin structure factor moves to the momentum $\vec{q}=(\frac{4\pi}{3},0)$).
• The resemblance of state with the Marston-Zeng spin Pereils solid state(in terms of dimer-dimer correlation) is also much enhanced by the ring exchange coupling, although it is unclear if such correlation would solidify into static order in the thermodynamic limit.