Classification and properties of quantum spin liquids on the hyperhoneycomb lattice

Abstract

The family of "Kitaev materials" provides an ideal platform to study quantum spin liquids and their neighboring magnetic orders. Motivated by the possibility of a quantum spin liquid ground state in pressurized hyperhoneycomb iridate $\beta$-Li$_2$IrO$_3$, we systematically classify and study symmetric quantum spin liquids on the hyperhoneycomb lattice, using the Abrikosov-fermion representation. Among the 176 symmetric $U(1)$ spin liquids (and 160 $Z_2$ spin liquids), we identify 8 "root" $U(1)$ spin liquids in proximity to the ground state of the solvable Kitave model on hyperhonecyomb lattices. These 8 states are promising candidates for possible $U(1)$ spin liquid ground states in pressurized $\beta$-Li$_2$IrO$_3$. We further discuss physical properties of these 8 $U(1)$ spin liquid candidates, and show that they all support nodal-line-shaped spinon Fermi surfaces.