We consider in detail the ground-state properties of recently introduced generalized Heisenberg models which can have several spin operators at each site and which interpolate smoothly between Heisenberg chains of different spin lengths. We show that the mappings to field-theoretical models used to describe the critical properties of the Heisenberg model remain valid in the composite-spin model. In models which interpolate between the spin-(1/2 and the spin-1 behavior, these mappings predict an extended singlet phase around the isotropic antiferromagnetic point whenever the models move away from the spin-(1/2 point. Numerical calculations on finite chains seem to confirm the existence of this singlet phase. The phase boundaries are, however, found to be independent of the interpolation parameter, and thus in disagreement with the predictions of the continuum theory, indicating its limitation.
Botet and Jullien [Phys. Rev. B 27, 613 (1983)] have conducted a finite-chain scaling analysis on the spin-1 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg-Ising chain. They claim that the ground-state properties are completely different from the case of spin
21. Using finite-size scaling techniques, they conclude that between the
XY gapless phase and the doublet-ground-state N\'eel phase, a new phase appears in an extended anisotropy range. This phase, which encompasses the isotropic Heisenberg model, is characterized by a nonmagnetic singlet ground state and a nonzero excitation-energy gap. We perform a similar finite-chain scaling analysis on the spin-
21 antiferromagnetic Heisenberg-Ising chain and obtain strikingly similar results. Since the spin-
41 system is known rigorously not to exhibit the type of behavior proposed by Botet and Jullien, their analysis is open to doubt. The possibility arises that a strong singularity at the Heisenberg point for spin 1 (similar to the essential singularity for spin
21) may be giving rise to misleading results. The
T=0 phase behavior of the spin-1 Heisenberg-Ising antiferromagnetic chain, therefore, remains in question and specific additional numerical studies are proposed to clarify the matter.