arXiv:0910.2341 · Communications in Theoretical Physics
Detailed Analysis of Quantum Phase Transitions Within theu(2) Algebra
L. Fortunato, L Sartori
Abstract
We analyze in detail the quantum phase transitions that arise in models based on the u (2) algebraic description for bosonic systems with two types of scalar bosons. First we discuss the quantum phase transition that occurs in hamiltonians that admix the two dynamical symmetry chains u (2)⊃ u (1) and u (2) ⊃so(2) by diagonalizing the problem exactly in the u(1) basis. Then we apply the coherent state formalism to determine the energy functional. Finally we show that a quantum phase transition of a different nature, but displaying similar characteristics, may arise also within a single chain just by including higher order terms in the hamiltonian.