Emergent SU(3) symmetry in random spin-1 chains

Abstract: We show that generic SU(2)-invariant random spin-1 chains have phases with an emergent SU(3) symmetry. We map out the full zero-temperature phase diagram and identify two different phases: (i) a conventional random singlet phase (RSP) of strongly bound spin pairs (SU(3) "mesons") and (ii) an unconventional RSP of bound SU(3) "baryons", which are formed, in the great majority, by spin trios located at random positions. The emergent SU(3) symmetry dictates that susceptibilities and correlation functions of both dipolar and quadrupolar spin operators have the same asymptotic behavior.