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Quantum spin liquids

Tell-tale topology

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Quantum spin liquids have long eluded detection, despite nearly forty years of investigation. Now, a topological property unique to the quantum-spin-liquid state has emerged as a viable method of detection.

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Figure 1: Valence-bond configurations on a kagome lattice.

Change history

  • 16 November 2012

    In the version of this News & Views originally published online, the third sentence of the fifth paragraph should have read 'The number, g, of topologically distinct curves of this type is closely related to the genus of the surface'.

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Correspondence to Steven R. White.

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White, S. Tell-tale topology. Nature Phys 8, 863–864 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1038/nphys2491

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