In a recent paper Nahum argued on the basis of a renormalization-group analysis that, contrary to standard lore, ground states of 1D spin chains with short-range interactions can spontaneously break U(1) ``easy-plane'' spin rotation symmetry. True long-range order of $(S^x,S^y)$ arises at the phase transition between two quasi-long-range-ordered phases. Here we present detailed numerical results for an anisotropic spin-1 chain model. We find a magnetization exponent $β\approx0.29$, consistent with the $ε$-expansion prediction $β\approx0.28$, a divergence of the Luttinger parameter on approaching the transition from both sides with an exponent that we relate to Nahum's transition, and finite-size spectra consistent with a dynamical critical exponent $z\approx2$. Our results support the critical behavior predicted by Nahum's field theory.
In a recent paper Nahum argued on the basis of a renormalization-group analysis that, contrary to standard lore, ground states of 1D spin chains with short-range interactions can spontaneously break U(1) ``easy-plane'' spin rotation symmetry. True long-range order of (Sx,Sy) arises at the phase transition between two quasi-long-range-ordered phases. Here we present detailed numerical results for an anisotropic spin-1 chain model. We find a magnetization exponent β≈0.29, consistent with the ε-expansion prediction β≈0.28, a divergence of the Luttinger parameter on approaching the transition from both sides with an exponent that we relate to Nahum's transition, and finite-size spectra consistent with a dynamical critical exponent z≈2. Our results support the critical behavior predicted by Nahum's field theory.
We argue that ground states of 1D spin chains can spontaneously break U(1) ``easy-plane'' spin rotation symmetry, via true long-range order of (Sx,Sy), at the phase transition between two quasi-long-range-ordered phases. The critical point can be reached by tuning a single parameter in a Hamiltonian with the same symmetry as the XXZ model, without further fine-tuning. Equivalently, it can arise in systems of bosons with particle-hole symmetry, as a long-range-ordered transition point between two quasi-long-range-ordered superfluids. Our approach is to start with the continuum field theory of the isotropic Heisenberg ferromagnet and consider generic perturbations that respect easy-plane symmetry. We argue for a renormalization-group flow to a critical point where long-range order in (Sx,Sy) is enabled by coexisting critical fluctuations of Sz. (We also discuss multicritical points where further parameters are tuned to zero.) These results show that it is much easier to break continuous symmetries in 1D than standard lore would suggest. The failure of standard intuition for 1D chains (based on the quantum--classical correspondence) can be attributed to Berry phases, which prevent the 1+1D system from mapping to a classical 2D spin model. The present theory also gives an example of an ordered state whose Goldstone mode is interacting even in the infra-red, rather than becoming a free field.
In this work, we present numerical evidence for the spontaneous breaking of a continuous U ( 1 ) symmetry in a nearest-neighbor interacting spin-1 chain at a quantum critical point separating two XY quasi-long-range ordered phases distinguished by a spontaneously broken Z 2 symmetry. Remarkably, the continuous symmetry breaking emerges precisely at the critical point of the discrete order parameter, suggesting a mechanism beyond currently established scenarios. At criticality, the XY correlations develop true long-range order, accompanied by a finite perpendicular magnetization, a zero-frequency Bragg peak in the transverse dynamical structure factor, and sharp gapless collective excitations. From complementary static and dynamical observables, we quantitatively determine the critical exponents, obtaining a dynamical exponent z = 1.50 ± 0.04 and an anomalous dimension η = 1.04 ± 0.03 . Remarkably, the value of z coincides with the one-dimensional Kardar-Parisi-Zhang exponent despite the system being an equilibrium quantum many-body system. We further show that the noninteracting continuum limit is equivalent to the recently introduced transverse quantum fluid, displaying their off-diagonal long-ranged order in one dimension. Complementing the numerical study, we derive the renormalization-group flow equations of the continuum theory to second order in the ɛ expansion. We identify an interacting fixed point whose critical behavior differs from the Ising universality class already at two-loop order, although the perturbative exponents remain far from the numerical values.
Antiferromagnetic Hamiltonians with short range, non-frustrating interactions are well known to exhibit long range magnetic order in dimensions d ≥2 but exhibit only quasi-long-range order, with power-law decay of correlations, in d = 1 (for half-integer spin). On the other hand, non-frustrating long range interactions can induce long range order in d = 1. We study Hamiltonians in which the long range interactions have an adjustable amplitude λ, as well as an adjustable power law 1/| x | α , using a combination of quantum Monte Carlo and analytic methods: spin-wave, large N non-linear σ model, and renormalization group methods. We map out the phase diagram in the λ–α plane and study the nature of the critical line separating the phases with long range and quasi-long-range order. We find that this corresponds to a novel line of critical points with continuously varying critical exponents and a dynamical exponent, z <1.
The Hohenberg-Mermin-Wagner theorem motivates the expectation that continuous symmetry remains unbroken in one-dimensional quantum ground states. Here, contrary to this expectation, we demonstrate the spontaneous breaking of U(1) spin-rotation symmetry and the emergence of an interacting quantum critical point in lattice spin-1/2 and spin-1 chains. Using subsystem Binder scaling, we locate the critical point and determine the correlation-length critical exponent as ν=0.60±0.02, distinct from the Gaussian value 1/2 but consistent with the perturbative renormalization-group value. We further estimate the dynamical critical exponent to be z=1.986±0.005 from the lowest neutral excitation gap and z=1.955±0.021 from the longitudinal spin correlations. The results z<2 are incompatible with microscopic realizations of this critical theory by frustration-free models, implying a mechanism for continuous symmetry breaking in one-dimensional quantum ground states distinct from frustration freeness.
We study spin-1/2 chains with long-range power-law decaying unfrustrated (bipartite) Heisenberg exchange Jr∝r−α and multi-spin interactions Q favoring a valence-bond solid (VBS) ground state. Employing quantum Monte Carlo techniques and Lanczos diagonalization, we analyze order parameters and excited-state level crossings to characterize quantum states and phase transitions in the (α,Q) plane. For weak Q and sufficiently slowly decaying Heisenberg interactions (small α), the system has a long-range-ordered antiferromagnetic (AFM) ground state, and upon increasing α there is a continuous transition into a quasi long-range ordered (QLRO) critical state of the type in the standard Heisenberg chain. For rapidly decaying long-range interactions, there is transition between QLRO and VBS ground states of the same kind as in the frustrated J1-J2 Heisenberg chain. Our most important finding is a direct continuous quantum phase transition between the AFM and VBS states - a close analogy to the 2D deconfined quantum-critical point. In previous 1D analogies the ordered phases both have gapped fractional excitations, and the critical point is a conventional Luttinger Liquid. In our model the excitations fractionalize upon transitioning from the AFM state, changing from spin waves to deconfined spinons. We extract critical exponents at the AFM-VBS transition and use order-parameter distributions to study emergent symmetries. We find emergent O(4) symmetry of the O(3) AFM and scalar VBS order parameters. Thus, the order parameter fluctuations exhibit the covariance of a uniaxially deformed O(4) sphere (an "elliptical" symmetry). This unusual quantum phase transition does not yet have any known field theory description, and our detailed results can serve to guide its construction. We discuss possible experimental realizations.
Long-range interactions can fundamentally reshape the low-energy properties of low-dimensional quantum matter, altering both continuous symmetry breaking and topological phenomena. However, their impact on the quantum criticality separating these regimes remains poorly understood. We determine the ground-state phase diagram and critical properties of the spin-one Heisenberg chain with single-ion anisotropy and staggered antiferromagnetic power-law interactions, using matrix-product state (MPS) calculations complemented by high-order series expansions (pCUT+MC). Such long-range, non-frustrated interactions circumvent the Hohenberg-Mermin-Wagner theorem, thereby stabilizing continuous symmetry breaking (CSB) phases in direct competition with the Haldane phase. We map out the resulting phase diagram and analyze the entanglement entropy scaling behavior in the U(1) and SU(2) CSB phases, finding logarithmic corrections beyond the short-range, universal contributions expected from linearly dispersed Goldstone modes. We further characterize all critical boundaries through finite-size scaling of either the entanglement entropy or the staggered magnetization. In particular, the large-D-to-U(1)-CSB transition exhibits unconventional, continuously varying critical exponents as a function of the long-range decay exponent with a strong dependence on the imposed boundary conditions leading to distinct finite-size scalings for sufficiently long-range potentials. Remarkably, the Haldane-to-U(1)-CSB transition likewise displays unconventional quantum criticality with distinct continuously varying critical exponents. Our work positions this model as a target for near-term atomic platforms with tunable long-range couplings and exhibiting natural single-ion anisotropy, offering a minimal playground for exploring the interplay between long-range interactions, continuous symmetry breaking, and topology.