arXiv:2104.04270 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B
Dissipative spin dynamics in hot quantum paramagnets
Dmytro Tarasevych, Peter Kopietz
Abstract
We use the functional renormalization approach for quantum spin systems developed by Krieg and Kopietz [Phys. Rev. B 99, 060403(R) (2019)] to calculate the spin-spin correlation function $G(\mathbit{k},\ensuremath{\omega})$ of quantum Heisenberg magnets at infinite temperature. For small wave vectors $\mathbit{k}$ and frequencies $\ensuremath{\omega}$ we find that $G(\mathbit{k},\ensuremath{\omega})$ assumes in dimensions $d>2$ the diffusive form predicted by hydrodynamics. In three dimensions our result for the spin-diffusion coefficient $\mathcal{D}$ is somewhat smaller than previous theoretical predictions based on the extrapolation of the short-time expansion, but is still about $30%$ larger than the measured high-temperature value of $\mathcal{D}$ in the Heisenberg ferromagnet ${\mathrm{Rb}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuBr}}_{4}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}2{\mathrm{H}}_{2}\mathrm{O}$. In reduced dimensions $d\ensuremath{\le}2$ we find superdiffusion characterized by a frequency-dependent complex spin-diffusion coefficient $\mathcal{D}(\ensuremath{\omega})$ which diverges logarithmically in $d=2$, and as a power-law $\mathcal{D}(\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\omega}}^{\ensuremath{-}1/3}$ in $d=1$. Our result in one dimension implies scaling with dynamical exponent $z=3/2$, in agreement with recent calculations for integrable spin chains. Our approach is not restricted to the hydrodynamic regime and allows us to calculate the dynamic structure factor $S(\mathbit{k},\ensuremath{\omega})$ for all wave vectors. We show how the short-wavelength behavior of $S(\mathbit{k},\ensuremath{\omega})$ at high temperatures reflects the relative sign and strength of competing exchange interactions.