SU(3) Fermions on the Honeycomb Lattice at 1/3-Filling

Abstract: SU(N) symmetric fermions on a lattice, which can be realized in ultracold-atom-based quantum simulators, have very promising prospects for realizing exotic states of matter. Here we present the ground state phase diagram of the repulsive SU(3) Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice at 1/3 filling obtained from infinite projected entangled pair states tensor network calculations. In the strongly interacting limit the ground state has plaquette order. Upon decreasing the interaction strength $U/t$ we find a first order transition at $U/t=7.2(2)$ into a dimerized, color-ordered state, which extends down to $U/t=4.5(5)$ at which the Mott transition occurs and the ground state becomes uniform. Our results may serve as a prediction and benchmark for future quantum simulators of SU(3) fermions.