Probing the stability of the spin-liquid phases in the Kitaev-Heisenberg model using tensor network algorithms

Abstract

We study the extent of the spin liquid phases in the Kitaev-Heisenberg model using infinite projected entangled-pair states tensor network ansatz wave functions directly in the thermodynamic limit. To assess the accuracy of the ansatz wave functions, we perform benchmarks against exact results for the Kitaev model and find very good agreement for various observables. In the case of the Kitaev-Heisenberg model, we confirm the existence of six different phases: Néel, stripy, ferromagnetic, zigzag, and two spin liquid phases. We find finite extents for both spin liquid phases and discontinuous phase transitions connecting them to symmetry-broken phases.