Magnetically ordered yet topologically robust phases emerging in concurrent Kitaev spin liquids

Spin-orbital generalizations of Kitaev model, such as Yao-Lee model, have attracted recent attention due to their enhanced stability of spin liquid phases against perturbations. Motivated by microscopic calculations for the realization of Yao-Lee model showing additional interactions, we study the phase diagram of the Yao-Lee model with added Kitaev and Heisenberg terms. While the plaquette operator is conserved even in the presence of added perturbations, the model becomes no longer exactly solvable. Using perturbation and Majorana mean-field theory, we find magnetic order can arise in the spin sector while the orbital sector remains a liquid for dominant Kitaev interactions, whereas both sectors form liquid phases when Yao-Lee interactions dominate. Additional Heisenberg exchange can enhance or suppress the magnetic order, revealing a rich coexistence of magnetic and topological phases.

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Publication Details

Journal
npj Quantum Materials
Published
2026-06-25
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41535-026-00912-5
Primary Topic
Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
Type
article
Field-Weighted Citation Impact
0.00

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Magnetically ordered yet topologically robust phases emerging in concurrent Kitaev spin liquids

Onur Erten, Hae‐Young Kee, Aayush Vijayvargia, Muhammad Akram
npj Quantum Materials
Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
article

Magnetically ordered yet topologically robust phases emerging in concurrent Kitaev spin liquids

Onur Erten, Hae‐Young Kee, Aayush Vijayvargia, Muhammad Akram
article en

Abstract

Spin-orbital generalizations of Kitaev model, such as Yao-Lee model, have attracted recent attention due to their enhanced stability of spin liquid phases against perturbations. Motivated by microscopic calculations for the realization of Yao-Lee model showing additional interactions, we study the phase diagram of the Yao-Lee model with added Kitaev and Heisenberg terms. While the plaquette operator is conserved even in the presence of added perturbations, the model becomes no longer exactly solvable. Using perturbation and Majorana mean-field theory, we find magnetic order can arise in the spin sector while the orbital sector remains a liquid for dominant Kitaev interactions, whereas both sectors form liquid phases when Yao-Lee interactions dominate. Additional Heisenberg exchange can enhance or suppress the magnetic order, revealing a rich coexistence of magnetic and topological phases.

npj Quantum Materials
Canadian Institute for Advanced Research (CA), Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences (PK), University of Toronto (CA), Arizona State University (US)
National Science Foundation, Canada Research Chairs, Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Division of Materials Research
Openalex Percentile: Top 8%
Advanced Condensed Matter Physics
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