Exact plaquette singlet phases in an orthogonal-plaquette model

Abstract

We introduce a quantum spin-1/2 model hosting two exact plaquette singlet ground states in extended parameter regimes. There is an exact phase transition between both phases, at which the system has an extensive ground-state degeneracy. Further, the model exhibits an extensive number of conserved quantities, which allow the prediction of additional phases. We exploit this feature and explore the phase diagram in detail for two specific parameter regimes. The model is based solely on Heisenberg interactions and seems sufficiently simple to be realized in quantum materials. A general scheme to determine exact singlet product states is briefly discussed.