Classification of symmetry fractionalization in gapped $\mathbb Z_2$ spin liquids

Abstract

In quantum spin liquids, fractional spinon excitations carry half-integer spins and other fractional quantum numbers of lattice and time-reversal symmetries. Different patterns of symmetry fractionalization distinguish different spin liquid phases. In this work, we derive a general constraint on the symmetry fractionalization of spinons in a gapped spin liquid, realized in a system with an odd number of spin-$1/2$ per unit cell. In particular, when applied to kagome/triangular lattices, we obtain a complete classification of symmetric gapped $\mathbb{Z_2}$ spin liquids.

11 pages, 4 figures. v2 published version: minor revisions, and journal reference added