Nematic quantum phases in the bilayer honeycomb antiferromagnet

The spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the honeycomb bilayer lattice is shown to display a rich variety of semiclassical and genuinely quantum phases, controlled by the interplay between intralayer frustration and interlayer exchange. Employing a complementary set of techniques, comprising spin rotationally invariant Schwinger boson mean-field theory, bond operators, and series expansions, we unveil the quantum phase diagram, analyzing low-energy excitations and order parameters. By virtue of Schwinger bosons we scan the complete range of exchange parameters, covering both long-range-ordered and quantum disordered ground states, and reveal the existence of an extended, frustration-induced lattice nematic phase in a range of intermediate exchange unexplored so far. Fil: Zhang, Hao. Sun Yat-sen University; China Fil: Lamas, Carlos Alberto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - La Plata. Instituto de Física La Plata. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas. Instituto de Física La Plata; Argentina