Year: 2026
Type: article
Abstract: Quantum spin liquids (QSLs) are magnetic phases that evade long-range order down to the lowest temperatures due to strong quantum fluctuations. Their lack of conventional order parameters, however, makes experimental identification challenging. In this work, we investigate how distinct QSL phases affect phonon dynamics through spinon-phonon coupling. By computing the phonon self-energy, we show that the phonon spectrum remains unrenormalized by spinon interactions, while sound attenuation and phonon thermal conductivity exhibit distinct signatures of the underlying QSL phase. These response functions therefore provide experimentally accessible fingerprints for distinguishing different QSL backgrounds. Remarkably, we find that a chiral QSL coupled to phonons does not generate a phonon thermal Hall effect despite explicitly breaking time-reversal symmetry. Our results establish phonon transport as a potential probe for identifying and characterizing quantum spin liquids.
DOI: 10.1103/9ysx-nv1d
Authors: Zachary Hizon, Kristian Hauser Villegas
Institution: University of the Philippines Diliman
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7204834634