Competing phases of the Hubbard model on a triangular lattice -- insights from the entropy

Abstract

Based on the ladder dual-fermion approach, we present a comprehensive study of the phases of the isotropic Hubbard model on the triangular lattice. We find a rich phase diagram containing most of the phases that have already been experimentally observed in systems where the interplay between geometric frustration and electronic correlations is important: paramagnetic metal, paramagnetic insulator, Mott-insulator with $120^{\circ}$ antiferromagnetic and a non-magnetic insulating state, i.e. possibly a spin liquid state. This establishes that the Hubbard model on frustrated lattices can serve as a minimal model to address the intricate interplay of frustration and correlation. We also show that entropic considerations can be successfully used for understanding many striking features of the triangular systems, such as the large thermopower found in Na$_{x}$CoO$_{2}\cdot$$y$H$_{2}$O.