Broken-Symmetry Ground States of the Heisenberg Model on the Pyrochlore Lattice

The spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the pyrochlore lattice is an iconic frustrated three-dimensional spin system with a rich phase diagram. Besides hosting several ordered phases, debated to possess spin-liquid ground state when only nearest-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions are present. Here, we contest this hypothesis extensive numerical investigation using both exact diagonalization and complementary variational techniques. Specifically, employ RVB-like many-variable Monte Carlo ansatz convolutional neural network quantum states for (variational) calculations up $4\times 4^3$ $4 \times 3^3$ spins, respectively. We demonstrate that these techniques yield consistent results, allowing reliable extrapolations thermodynamic limit. Our main results (1) determination of transition between putative neighboring magnetically (2) careful characterization in terms symmetry-breaking tendencies. find clear indications spontaneously broken inversion rotational symmetry, calling scenario featureless into question. work showcases how can be used make progress answering challenging questions about magnets.