Topological spin liquid on the hyper-kagome lattice of Na_4Ir_3O_8

Recent experiments on the “hyper-kagome” lattice system Na${}_4$Ir${}_3$O${}_8$ have demonstrated that it is a rare example of a three dimensional spin-1/2 frustrated antiferromagnet. We investigate the role of quantum fluctuations as the primary mechanism lifting the macroscopic degeneracy inherited by classical spins on this lattice. In the semi-classical limit we predict, based on large-N calculations, that an unusual $\vec{q}=0$ coplaner magnetically ordered ground state is stabilized with no local “weather vane” modes. This phase melts in the quantum limit and a gapped topological Z${}_2$ spin liquid phase emerges. In the vicinity of this quantum phase transition, we study the dynamic spin structure factor and comment on the relevance of our results for future neutron scattering experiments.