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Abstract

Despite much experimental and theoretical work, the nature of the charge order in the kagome metals belonging to the family of materials AV₃Sb₃ (A=Cs,Rb,K) remains controversial. A crucial ingredient for the identification of the ordering in these materials is their response to external perturbations, such as strain or magnetic fields. To this end, we provide a comprehensive symmetry classification of the possible charge orders in kagome materials with a 2×2 increase of the unit cell. Motivated by the experimental reports of time-reversal symmetry breaking and rotational anisotropy, we consider the interdependence of flux and bond orders. Deriving the relevant Landau free energy for possible orders, we study the effect of symmetry-breaking perturbations such as strain and magnetic fields. Our results thus provide a road map for future tests of these intricate orders.