Variational study of triangular lattice spin-1/2 model with ring exchanges and spin liquid state in κ-(ET)_2 Cu_2 (CN)_3

Abstract

We study triangular lattice spin-1/2 system with antiferromagnetic Heisenberg and ring exchanges using variational approach focusing on possible realization of spin liquid states. Trial spin liquid wave functions are obtained by Gutzwiller projection of fermionic mean field states and their energetics is compared against magnetically ordered trial states. We find that in a range of the ring exchange coupling upon destroying the antiferromagnetic order, the best such spin liquid state is essentially a Gutzwiller-projected Fermi sea state. We propose this spin liquid with spinon Fermi surface as a candidate for the nonmagnetic insulating phase observed in the organic compound \kappa-(ET)_2 Cu_2 (CN)_3, and describe some experimental consequences of this proposal.