The mutual feedback between quantum condensed matter and cold atom physics has been quite fruitful throughout history and continues to inspire ongoing research. Motivated by the recent activities on the quantum simulation of topological orders among the ultracold Rydberg atom arrays, we consider the possibility of searching for topological orders among the dipolar quantum magnets and polar molecules with a kagome lattice geometry. Together with other quantum interactions such as the transverse field, the dipolar interaction endows the kagome system with a similar structure as the Balents-Fisher-Girvin model and thus fosters the emergence of the Z2 topological orders. We construct a Z2 lattice gauge theory to access the topological ordered phase and describe the spinon and vison excitations for the Z2 topological orders. We explain the spectroscopic consequences for various quantum phases as well as the experimental detection. We further discuss the rare-earth kagome magnets, ultracold polar molecules, and cluster Mott insulators for the physical realization.
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Provide a novel and synergetic link between different research areas.
Open a new pathway in an existing or a new research direction, with clear potential for multi-pronged follow-up work
Detail a groundbreaking theoretical/experimental/computational discovery
Present a breakthrough on a previously-identified and long-standing research stumbling block
List of changes
Summary of Changes 1. At the end of Sec. V B, a discussion about possible competing phases is added. 2. In the beginning of the 4th paragraph of Sec. I, “Since the Z2 topological order has not yet been fully discovered in any existing experiment” is revised to “While Z2 topological order has appeared in Rydberg atom experiments and quantum simulators, its evidence in real condensed matter materials has not yet been fully discovered in any existing experiment. Therefore, it is more important for us to address the key experimental features that distinguish it from other states.” 3. At the end of Sec. VII A 1, a discussion about measuring dynamical signatures of fractional excitations is added. 4. “kagomé” is replaced by “kagome”. 5. At the end of Sec. IV A, “For mz = msat/3$, recent numerical simulations suggest that the Z2 liquid phase also lives in the finite μ region, and a hidden order is reported near and above μ=0” is added. 6. Several typos are fixed.
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Report #2 by
Anonymous
(Referee 2) on 2025-7-7
(Invited Report)
Report
The authors have satisfactorily addressed all my questions and I am happy to recommend the publication of this manuscript in SciPost Physics.
Recommendation
Publish (meets expectations and criteria for this Journal)
validity: good
significance: good
originality: ok
clarity: ok
formatting: good
grammar: reasonable
Report #1 by
Anonymous
(Referee 1) on 2025-6-24
(Invited Report)
Report
The authors have addressed all my concerns. I thus recommend publication in SciPost Physics.
Recommendation
Publish (meets expectations and criteria for this Journal)
