Quantum phase transitions in 1/3 plateau of the quantum spin tube

We study quantum phase transitions in the 1/3 plateau state of the three-leg spin-1/2 tube, where the low-energy effective chirality degree of freedom plays an essential role. Using the density matrix renormalization group and the effective chirality model, we find that, as the leg coupling increases, the chirality liquid, a novel spin imbalance phase and the vector-spin-chirality ordered phase emerge without closing the plateau spin gap. We also clarify the role of the S 3 -symmetry of the spin tube, behind these quantum phase transitions.