Phase Diagram of the Heisenberg Spin Ladder with Ring Exchange

We investigate the phase diagram of a generalized spin-½ quantum antiferromagnet on a ladder with rung, leg, diagonal, and ring-exchange interactions. We consider the exactly soluble models associated with the problem, obtain the exact ground states which exist for certain parameter regimes, and apply a variety of perturbative techniques in the regime of strong ring-exchange coupling. By combining these approaches with considerations related to the discrete Z 4 symmetry of the model, we present the complete phase diagram.