Exact Fractionalized Ground States in an Extended Spin-1 Kitaev Chain
Abstract
Inspired by the Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) model, we present exact solutions for a spin-1 chain with Kitaev-like couplings. We consider an expanded Kitaev model with bilinear and biquadratic terms. At an exactly solvable point, the Hamiltonian can be reexpressed as a sum of projection operators. Unlike the AKLT model where projectors act on total spin, we project the component of spin along the bond direction. This leads to exponential ground-state degeneracy, expressed in terms of fractionalized spin-1/2 objects. Each ground state can be expressed concisely as a matrix product state. We construct a phase diagram by varying the relative strength of bilinear and biquadratic terms. The fractionalized states provide a qualitative picture for the spin-1 Kitaev model, yielding approximate forms for the ground state and low-lying excitations.
Fields of Study & Subjects
Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism
Quantum Chromodynamics and Particle Interactions
Publication details
- Journal / source
- Physical Review Letters
- Publisher
- American Physical Society (APS)
- Volume
- 137
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 046701–046701
- Publication date
- 27 May 2026
- Language
- EN