Projected wave functions for fractionalized phases of quantum spin systems

The Gutzwiller projection allows the construction of an assortment of variational wave functions for strongly correlated systems. For quantum spin S=1/2 models, Gutzwiller-projected wave functions have resonating-valence-bond structure and may represent states with fractional quantum numbers for the excitations. Using insights obtained from field-theoretical descriptions of fractionalization in two dimensions, we construct candidate wave functions of fractionalized states by projecting specific superconducting states. We explicitly demonstrate the presence of topological order in these states.