The $J_1$-$J_2$ spin chain is one of the canonical models of quantum magnetism, and has long been known to host a critical antiferromagnetic phase with power-law decay of spin correlations. We show in this Letter that there are, in fact, \textit{two} distinct critical antiferromagnetic phases, where the roles of the local dimer field and its dual field are interchanged: the `Affleck-Haldane' phase near the Heisenberg point $J_2 = 0$, where the dimer field that parametrises local singlet order is gapless and part of a joint $O(4)$ Néel-singlet order parameter; and the `Zirnbauer' phase which appears at sufficiently large ferromagnetic $J_2$, where the dimer field is gapped out and its \textit{dual} field -- the instanton density of the $O(3)$ Néel field -- is critical instead. The phases are so-named because each realises one of the competing pictures for how the $O(3)$ non-linear sigma model with a topological theta term renormalises to the $\mathfrak{\hat{su}}(2)_1$ Wess-Zumino-Witten model. We support these predictions with density matrix renormalisation group calculations.
Transition between critical antiferromagnetic phases in the J1-J2 spin chain
The J1-J2 spin chain is one of the canonical models of quantum magnetism, and has long been known to host a critical antiferromagnetic phase with power-law decay of spin correlations. We show in this Letter that there are, in fact, \textit{two} distinct critical antiferromagnetic phases, where the roles of the local dimer field and its dual field are interchanged: the Affleck-Haldane' phase near the Heisenberg point $J_2 = 0$, where the dimer field that parametrises local singlet order is gapless and part of a joint $O(4)$ Néel-singlet order parameter; and the Zirnbauer' phase which appears at sufficiently large ferromagnetic J2, where the dimer field is gapped out and its \textit{dual} field -- the instanton density of the O(3) Néel field -- is critical instead. The phases are so-named because each realises one of the competing pictures for how the O(3) non-linear sigma model with a topological theta term renormalises to the su^(2)1 Wess-Zumino-Witten model. We support these predictions with density matrix renormalisation group calculations.
The phase diagram of the quantum spin-21 antiferromagnetic ${J}_{1}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}$ XXZ chain was obtained by Haldane using bosonization techniques [Haldane, Phys. Rev. B 25, 4925 (1982); Phys. Rev. B 26, 5257 (1982)]. It supports three distinct phases for $0\ensuremath{\le}{J}_{2}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}/{J}_{1}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}<\frac{1}{2}$, i.e., a gapless algebraic spin-liquid phase, a gapped long-range ordered Neel phase, and a gapped long-range ordered dimer phase. Even though the Neel and dimer phases are not related hierarchically by a pattern of symmetry breaking, it was shown that they meet along a line of quantum critical points with a U(1) symmetry and central charge c=1. Here, we extend the analysis made by Haldane on the quantum spin-21 antiferromagnetic ${J}_{1}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}$ XYZ chain using both bosonization and numerical techniques. We show that there are three Neel phases and the dimer phase that are separated from each other by six planes of phase boundaries realizing Gaussian criticality when $0\ensuremath{\le}{J}_{2}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}/{J}_{1}^{\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}}<\frac{1}{2}$. We also show that each long-range ordered phase harbors topological point defects (domain walls) that are dual to those across the phase boundary in that a defect in one ordered phase locally binds the other type of order around its core. By using the bosonization approach, we identify the critical theory that describes simultaneous proliferation of these dual point defects, and show that it supports an emergent U(1) symmetry that originates from the discrete symmetries of the XYZ model. To confirm this numerically, we perform exact diagonalization and density-matrix renormalization-group calculations and show that the critical theory is characterized by the central charge c=1 with critical exponents that are consistent with those obtained from the bosonization approach. Furthermore, we generalize the field-theoretic description of direct continuous phase transition to higher dimensions, especially in d=3, by using a nonlinear sigma model (NLSM) with a topological term. In particular, we propose the $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux phase on the cubic lattice with local quartic interactions as a platform for direct continuous phase transition and deconfined criticality. We discuss possible phase diagrams for the $\ensuremath{\pi}$-flux phase on the cubic lattice with these quartic interactions from the renormalization flow of NLSMs.
The antiferromagnetic ${J}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{2}$ model is a spin-1/2 chain with isotropic exchange J1>0 between first neighbors and ${J}_{2}=\ensuremath{\alpha}{J}_{1}$ between second neighbors. The model supports both gapless quantum phases with nondegenerate ground states and gapped phases with $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(\ensuremath{\alpha})>0$ and doubly degenerate ground states. Exact thermodynamics is limited to $\ensuremath{\alpha}=0$, the linear Heisenberg antiferromagnet (HAF). Exact diagonalization of small systems at frustration $\ensuremath{\alpha}$ followed by density matrix renormalization group calculations returns the entropy density $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha},N)$ and magnetic susceptibility $\ensuremath{\chi}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha},N)$ of progressively larger systems up to N=96 or 152 spins. Convergence to the thermodynamic limit, $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ or $\ensuremath{\chi}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$, is demonstrated down to $T/J\ensuremath{\sim}0.01$ in the sectors $\ensuremath{\alpha}<1$ and $\ensuremath{\alpha}>1$. $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ yields the critical points between gapless phases with ${S}^{\ensuremath{'}}(0,\ensuremath{\alpha})>0$ and gapped phases with ${S}^{\ensuremath{'}}(0,\ensuremath{\alpha})=0$. The ${S}^{\ensuremath{'}}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ maximum at ${T}^{*}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ is obtained directly in chains with large $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ and by extrapolation for small gaps. A phenomenological approximation for $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ down to T=0 indicates power-law deviations ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\alpha})}$ from $exp[\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(\ensuremath{\alpha})/T]$ with exponent $\ensuremath{\gamma}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ that increases with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. The $\ensuremath{\chi}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ analysis also yields power-law deviations, but with exponent $\ensuremath{\eta}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ that decreases with $\ensuremath{\alpha}$. Spin correlation functions account for $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ differences between frustration $\ensuremath{\alpha}<1$ within a chain and $\ensuremath{\alpha}>1$ between HAFs on sublattices. $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ and the spin density $\ensuremath{\rho}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})=4T\ensuremath{\chi}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ probe the thermal and magnetic fluctuations, respectively, of strongly correlated spin states. Gapless chains have constant $S(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})/\ensuremath{\rho}(T,\ensuremath{\alpha})$ for T<0.10. Remarkably, the ratio decreases (increases) with T in chains with large (small) $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Delta}}(\ensuremath{\alpha})$.
The ground state phase of a spin-$\frac{1}{2} {J}_{1}\text{\ensuremath{-}}{J}_{2}$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a square lattice around the maximally frustrated regime $({J}_{2}\ensuremath{\sim}0.5{J}_{1})$ has been debated for decades. Here we study this model using the cluster update algorithm for tensor-product states (TPSs). The ground state energies at finite sizes and in the thermodynamic limit (with finite size scaling) are in good agreement with exact diagonalization study. Through finite size scaling of the spin correlation function, we find the critical point J2c1=0.572(5)J1 and critical exponents $\ensuremath{\nu}=0.50(8),\phantom{\rule{0.16em}{0ex}}{\ensuremath{\eta}}_{s}=0.28(6)$. In the range of $0.572<{J}_{2}/{J}_{1}\ensuremath{\le}0.6$ we find a paramagnetic ground state with an exponentially decaying spin-spin correlation. Up to a $24\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}24$ system size, we observe power law decaying dimer-dimer and plaquette-plaquette correlations with an anomalous plaquette scaling exponent ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{p}=0.24(1)$ and an anomalous columnar scaling exponent ${\ensuremath{\eta}}_{c}=0.28(1)$ at J2/J1=0.6. These results are consistent with a potential gapless U(1) spin-liquid phase. However, since the U(1) spin liquid is unstable due to the instanton effect, a valence bond solid order with very small amplitude might develop in the thermodynamic limit. Thus, our numerical results strongly indicate a deconfined quantum critical point at J2c1. Remarkably, all the observed critical exponents are consistent with the $J\text{\ensuremath{-}}Q$ model.
We study spontaneous dimerization and emergent criticality in a spin-23 chain with antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor J1, next-nearest-neighbor J2, and three-site J3 interactions. In the absence of three-site interaction J3, we provide evidence that the model undergoes a remarkable sequence of three phase transitions as a function of J2/J1, going successively through a critical-commensurate phase, a partially dimerized gapped phase, a critical floating phase with quasi-long-range incommensurate order, to end up in a fully dimerized phase at very large J2/J1. In the field-theory language, this implies that the coupling constant of the marginal operator responsible for dimerization changes sign three times. For large enough J3, the fully dimerized phase is stabilized for all J2, and the phase transitions between the critical phases and this phase are both Wess-Zumino-Witten (WZW) SU(2)3 along part of the boundary and turn first order at some point due to the presence of a marginal operator in the WZW SU(2)3 model. By contrast, the transition between the two-dimerized phase is always first order, and the phase transitions between the partially dimerized phase and the critical phases are Kosterlitz-Thouless. Finally, we discuss the intriguing spin-21 edge states that emerge in the partially dimerized phase for even chains. Unlike their counterparts in the spin-1 chain, they are not confined and disappear upon increasing J2 in favor of a reorganization of the dimerization pattern.
We investigate the quantum spin-1/2 zigzag chain with frustrated ${J}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{2}$ Heisenberg interactions, incorporating additional off-diagonal exchange interactions known as the $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ term, both with and without an applied magnetic field. Based on the density-matrix renormalization group calculation, we map out the ground-state phase diagram that shows a variety of magnetic and nonmagnetic phases including multicritical points and several exactly solvable points. Upon introducing a finite $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ term, we observe the persistent dimer-singlet state of the ${J}_{1}\ensuremath{-}{J}_{2}$ Heisenberg model, sustaining a nonzero spin gap, while also hosting a gapless nonmagnetic excitation that manifests in the substantial zero-energy peak in the nematic dynamical structure factor. This gapless peak-mode, remaining almost as a fluctuation to the ground state, induces a dilute but robust concentration of nematicity on top of singlets on dimers, which we call the nematic singlet-dimer phase. When the whole nematic excited mode condenses and replaces the singlet, the nematic-dimer phase transforms into the Ising-type ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic long-range orders. The $\mathrm{\ensuremath{\Gamma}}$ term spontaneously selects magnetic easy axes, and their orientations dictate the type of magnetic order under geometric frustration effects as predicted by Landau's mean-field theory. These theoretical findings provide insights into the exotic low-temperature phase observed in YbCuS2, characterized by gapless excitations and seemingly nonmagnetic behavior.
The antiferromagnetic spin-1 chain has a venerable history and has been thought to be well understood. Here, we show that inclusion of both next-nearest-neighbor $(\ensuremath{\alpha})$ and biquadratic $(\ensuremath{\beta})$ interactions results in a rich phase diagram with a multicritical point that has not been observed before. We study the problem using a combination of the density matrix renormalization group (DMRG), an analytic variational matrix product state wave function, and conformal field theory. For negative $\ensuremath{\beta}<{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{*}$, we establish the existence of a spontaneously dimerized phase, separated from the Haldane phase by the critical line ${\ensuremath{\alpha}}_{c}(\ensuremath{\beta})$ of second-order phase transitions. In the opposite regime, $\ensuremath{\beta}>{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{*}$, the transition from the Haldane phase becomes first order into the next-nearest-neighbor (NNN) AKLT phase. Based on the field theoretical arguments and DMRG calculations, we find that these two regimes are separated by a multicritical point $({\ensuremath{\beta}}^{*},{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{*})$ of a different universality class, described by the level-4 SU(2) Wess-Zumino-Witten conformal theory. From the DMRG calculations, we estimate this multicritical point to lie in the range $\ensuremath{-}0.2<{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{*}<\ensuremath{-}0.15$ and $0.47<{\ensuremath{\alpha}}^{*}<0.53$. We further find that the dimerized and NNN-AKLT phases are separated from each other by a line of first-order phase transitions that terminates at the multicritical point. We establish that transitions out of the Haldane phase into the dimer or NNN-AKLT phases are topological in nature and occur either with or without closing of the bulk gap, respectively. We also study short-range incommensurate-to-commensurate transitions in the resulting phase diagram. Inside the Haldane phase, we show the existence of two incommensurate crossovers: the Lifshitz transition and the disorder transition of the first kind, marking incommensurate correlations in momentum and real space, respectively. Notably, these crossover lines stretch across the entire $(\ensuremath{\beta},\ensuremath{\alpha})$ phase diagram, merging into a single incommensurate-to-commensurate transition line for negative $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\lesssim}{\ensuremath{\beta}}^{*}$ inside the dimer phase. This behavior is qualitatively similar to that seen in classical frustrated two-dimensional spin models, by way of the quantum (1+1)D to classical 2D correspondence.