Spontaneous trimerization in two-dimensional antiferromagnets

In this paper, we propose an exotic quantum paramagnetic state in two-dimensional antiferromagnets—the spontaneous trimer state—which is the direct product state of the trimers of spins. Each trimer is a singlet state formed by three neighboring spins with SU(3) symmetry. A frustrated spin-1 Heisenberg model in the kagome lattice is investigated. By analogy to the pseudo-potential approach in the fractional quantum Hall effect (FQHE), we find that the trimer state provides a good description for the exact ground state of this model. Other interesting properties, such as the local excitations as well as magnetization plateaus have also been investigated.