A spin liquid is a novel quantum state of matter with no conventional order
parameter where a finite charge gap exists even though the band theory would
predict metallic behavior. Finding a stable spin liquid in two or higher
spatial dimensions is one of the most challenging and debated issues in
condensed matter physics. Very recently, it has been reported that a model of
graphene, i.e., the Hubbard model on the honeycomb lattice, can show a spin
liquid ground state in a wide region of the phase diagram, between a semi-metal
(SM) and an antiferromagnetic insulator (AFMI). Here, by performing numerically
exact quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we extend the previous study to much
larger clusters (containing up to 2592 sites), and find, if any, a very weak
evidence of this spin liquid region. Instead, our calculations strongly
indicate a direct and continuous quantum phase transition between SM and AFMI.Comment: 15 pages with 7 figures and 9 tables including supplementary
information, accepted for publication in Scientific Report