Exact expressions are given for the free energy of the classical Heisenberg model in one lattice dimension and two or three spin dimensions with general anisotropy; the two-dimensional result, already known, is in terms of Mathieu functions and the three-dimensional result in terms of Lame wavefunctions. The method presented solves the eigenvalue problem for an appropriate transfer matrix by relating it to solutions of the Helmholtz equation in suitable curvilinear coordinate systems. High and low temperature limits are discussed for the three-dimensional spin case and the connection given with already known results for partial anisotropy.
The exact solution of the eigenvalue problem of a symmetric Heisenberg Hamiltonian in one dimension is investigated in a new form, in a spin-wave representation. This avoids the specific ordering of lattice points which characterizes the one-dimensional solution in configuration space, and may indicate a way to an extension to several dimensions. The familiar phase factors of the configuration space solution are determined independently of the dynamics of the equations, from the condition that there can be only one spin 1/2 reversal on a lattice point, and from a zero-momentum condition resulting from the symmetry of the Hamiltonian. The new form of the solution reveals a number of new relationships, and a new method is presented to verify that these wavefunctions satisfy the wave equation.
We discuss the ground state of the Heisenberg spin-1/2 chain in one dimension, considering nearest neighbor interactions. In the thermodynamic limit the energy is calculated analytically in several ways. We start by applying the Bethe ansatz to calculate the exact ground state energy of the XXX Heisenberg model. Next we study small perturbations of the spin anisotropy, the parameter for the interaction in the z-direction for the XXZ model, by applying time-independent perturbation theory. In addition we expand an exact integral expression of the energy of the XXZ model around the spin anisotropy in the thermodynamic limit. The results are compared to numerical solutions, which are obtained by means of exact diagonalization up to twelve lattice sites. We find that for ten or more lattice sites the numerics agree well with the expectation from the analytical calculations. Finally the concept of integrability is discussed in the context of the Heisenberg model.
Results of exact numerical work on the spectra and thermodynamic properties are presented for finite clusters in one and two dimensions, for the isotropic Heisenberg Hamiltonian and the Heisenberg Hamiltonian with longitudinal anisotropy. Eigenvalues of the isotropic Heisenberg loops (that is, those with periodic boundary conditions) of $N\ensuremath{\le}12, 8, 6, 5$, 5 particles, each of spin \textonehalf{}, 1,
23, 2 and
25, respectively, are found. It is shown that the spin-
S linear chain ($N\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\infty}$) will have ground-state energy per spin $\frac{{\ensuremath{\epsilon}}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}^{s}}{2J}=\ensuremath{-}1.404\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.002, \ensuremath{-}2.85\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03, \ensuremath{-}4.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4 \mathrm{and} \ensuremath{-}7.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5$, for
S=1,23,2,and25, respectively. For antiferromagnetic interaction, the lowest excited states of the loops with even number of particles have spin 1 and the familiar double sine spectrum; while for the spin-\textonehalf{} case the eigenvalues are very different from the result of the spin-wave theory, they approach this limit as the spin increases, and for spin
25, the infinite-spin results of the spin-wave theory should be quite accurate. For ferromagnetic loops, there exist spin-wave bound states for higher spins just like those familiar in the spin-\textonehalf{} linear chain. Effective magnetic moments for these loops are tabulated. We also present the moments for the
N=8 spin-\textonehalf{} chain (with open ends), and find the difference to be small. Results on the 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}4 two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet are presented and compared with experimental data. Finally, we show some examples of the violation of the nondegeneracy rule, similar to those found by Heilmann and Lieb; levels belonging to different representations of a symmetry group remain permanently degenerate when a parameter is varied.
Abstract This chapter introduces the Heisenberg model, a fully quantum mechanical model that describes the magnetism of localized magnetic moments. The one-dimensional version of the Heisenberg model, the Heisenberg quantum spin chain, provides a good picture of magnetic materials that belong to a class of insulating magnetic materials where the interaction of the magnetic moments in one particular direction is much larger than in the perpendicular directions, and which can be described with high accuracy as quasi- one-dimensional magnets. A detailed description of the Heisenberg quantum spin chain is followed by a discussion of its various special cases, in particular the special case of the anisotropic Heisenberg quantum spin chain, the so-called XXZ quantum spin chain. It considers the solution of eigenvalue problem of this quantum spin and leads to Bethe’s conjecture for the wave function.