Triplon analysis of magnetic disorder and order in maple-leaf Heisenberg magnet

The nearest-neighbor spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the maple-leaf lattice formed by hexagons (couplingJ), triangles (couplingJ), and dimers (couplingJ), is investigated in a parameter regime whereJh>0andJt,Jd<0. This investigation aims to identify regions hosting exotic valence-bond solid states. Two potential magnetically disordered ground states are identified, and their stability is assessed through plaquette-triplon mean-field analyses. The resulting quantum phase diagram reveals that at large|Jt|and|Jd|, the system adopts a magnetically disordered dimerized VBS state, while for small|Jd|, it stabilizes a Néel state. A second-order phase transition from the dimerized phase to a Néel phase is observed, which, being Landau-forbidden, suggests the potential presence of exotic phenomena such as a deconfined quantum critical point or the appearance of a quantum spin liquid. This work provides insights into the phase diagram of the nearest-neighbor spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the maple-leaf lattice and lays the groundwork for further investigations into its intriguing physics.