We study and solve the ground-state problem of a microscopic model for a family of orbitally degenerate quantum magnets. The orbital degrees of freedom are assumed to have a directional character and are represented by static Potts-like variables. In the limit of vanishing Hund's coupling, the ground-state manifold of such a model is spanned by the hard-core dimer (spin singlet) coverings of the lattice. The extensive degeneracy of dimer coverings is lifted at a finite Hund's coupling through an order-out-of-disorder mechanism by virtual triplet excitations. The relevance of our results to several experimentally studied systems is discussed.
Stefano Rusponi, Chao Li, Boris Sorokin
Harald Brune, Stefano Rusponi, Marina Pivetta, Fabio Donati, Aparajita Singha