SU(3) fermions on the honeycomb lattice at 1/3 filling

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.