Hubbard model for spin-1 Haldane chains

The Haldane phase for antiferromagnetic spin-1 chains is a celebrated topological state of matter, featuring gapped excitations and fractional spin-1/2 edge states. Here, we provide numerical evidence that this phase can be realized with a Hubbard model at half filling, where each s = 1 spin is stored in a four-site fermionic structure. We find that the noninteracting limit of our proposed model describes a one-dimensional topological insulator, and we conjecture it to be adiabatically connected to the Haldane phase. Our work suggests a route to build spin-1 networks using Hubbard model quantum simulators.

Automated summary

This study provides numerical evidence that the Haldane phase for antiferromagnetic spin-1 chains can be realized using a Hubbard model at half filling. The noninteracting limit of the proposed model is found to describe a one-dimensional topological insulator, and it is conjectured to be adiabatically connected to the Haldane phase.