arXiv:0812.3657 · Physical Review B
SU(N) Heisenberg model on the square lattice: A continuous- N quantum Monte Carlo study
K. S. D. Beach, Fabien Alet, Matthieu Mambrini, Sylvain Capponi
Abstract
A quantum phase transition is typically induced by tuning an external parameter that appears as a coupling constant in the Hamiltonian. Another route is to vary the global symmetry of the system, generalizing, e.g., SU(2) to $\text{SU}(N)$. In that case, however, the discrete nature of the control parameter prevents one from identifying and characterizing the transition. We show how this limitation can be overcome for the $\text{SU}(N)$ Heisenberg model with the help of a singlet projector algorithm that can treat $N$ continuously. On the square lattice, we find a direct, continuous phase transition between N\'eel-ordered and crystalline bond-ordered phases at ${N}_{\text{c}}=4.57(5)$ with critical exponents $z=1$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}/\ensuremath{\nu}=0.81(3)$.