Classical vertex model dualities in a family of two-dimensional frustrated quantum antiferromagnets

We study a general class of easy-axis spin models on a lattice of corner sharing even-sided polygons with all-to-all interactions within a plaquette. The low-energy description corresponds to a quantum dimer model on a dual lattice of even coordination number with a multidimer constraint. At an appropriately constructed frustration-free Rokhsar-Kivelson (RK) point, the ground-state wavefunction can be exactly mapped onto a classical vertex model on the dual lattice. When the dual lattice is bipartite, the vertex models are bonded and are self-dual under Wegner's duality, with the self-dual point corresponding to the RK point of the original multidimer model. We argue that the self-dual point is a critical point based on known exact solutions to some of the vertex models. When the dual lattice is nonbipartite, the vertex model is arrowed, and we use numerical methods to argue that there is no phase transition as a function of the vertex weights. Motivated by these wavefunction dualities, we construct two other distinct families of frustration-free Hamiltonians whose ground states can be mapped onto these vertex models. Many of these RK Hamiltonians provably host Z2 topologically ordered phases.

Automated summary

We study easy-axis spin models and their low-energy descriptions on lattices, and construct other families of Hamiltonians based on wavefunction dualities.