Surface critical-behavior of some 2-dimensional lattice models

The existence of nonuniversal, as well as surface (universal) critical behavior near a defect plane is demonstrated on a one-dimensional quantum lattice gas model, belonging to the two-dimensional Ising universality class. According to numerical results the weak defect region is attracted by a line of fixed points starting at the bulk critical point, while the strong defect region is controlled by a separate fixed point describing the surface transition of the model. This new kind of phase diagram is argued to be general for two-dimensional lattice gas models.The existence of nonuniversal, as well as surface (universal) critical behavior near a defect plane is demonstrated on a one-dimensional quantum lattice gas model, belonging to the two-dimensional Ising universality class. According to numerical results the weak defect region is attracted by a line of fixed points starting at the bulk critical point, while the strong defect region is controlled by a separate fixed point describing the surface transition of the model. This new kind of phase diagram is argued to be general for two-dimensional lattice gas models.

Physical review. B, Condensed matterSep 1, 19893 citations

Surface critical behavior of coupled Haldane chains

Wenjing Zhu, Chengxiang Ding, Long Zhang +1 more

The nonordinary surface transitions at the ( $2+1$ )-dimensional quantum critical point precluded in the corresponding classical critical point have been found recently. The mechanism of such behavior that is only found in dimerized Heisenberg models to date is still under debate. To illuminate the role of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in inducing such nonordinary behaviors, we study a system on a two-dimensional square lattice consisting of interacting spin-1 Haldane chains, which has a genuine SPT phase---the Haldane phase---at weak interchain interactions and a quantum critical point, belonging to the classical three-dimensional (3D) O(3) universality class, to the N\'eel phase. Different from previously studied models, there is no dimerization in the current model. Cutting the system along the chain direction or perpendicular to the chain direction exposes two different surfaces. Using unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the two different types of surfaces show completely different surface critical behaviors at the bulk critical point, resulting from different surface states in the SPT phase. For the system with surfaces along the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is of ordinary type of the bulk 3D O(3) critical point, while for the surfaces perpendicular to the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is nonordinary, consistent with nonordinary transitions found in dimerized Heisenberg models. Our numerical results demonstrate that the gapless surface state in the gapped SPT phase together with the gapless mode of the critical point is a pure quantum scenario that leads to the nonordinary transition.The nonordinary surface transitions at the ($2+1$)-dimensional quantum critical point precluded in the corresponding classical critical point have been found recently. The mechanism of such behavior that is only found in dimerized Heisenberg models to date is still under debate. To illuminate the role of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in inducing such nonordinary behaviors, we study a system on a two-dimensional square lattice consisting of interacting spin-1 Haldane chains, which has a genuine SPT phase---the Haldane phase---at weak interchain interactions and a quantum critical point, belonging to the classical three-dimensional (3D) O(3) universality class, to the N\'eel phase. Different from previously studied models, there is no dimerization in the current model. Cutting the system along the chain direction or perpendicular to the chain direction exposes two different surfaces. Using unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the two different types of surfaces show completely different surface critical behaviors at the bulk critical point, resulting from different surface states in the SPT phase. For the system with surfaces along the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is of ordinary type of the bulk 3D O(3) critical point, while for the surfaces perpendicular to the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is nonordinary, consistent with nonordinary transitions found in dimerized Heisenberg models. Our numerical results demonstrate that the gapless surface state in the gapped SPT phase together with the gapless mode of the critical point is a pure quantum scenario that leads to the nonordinary transition.

arXiv:2010.10920Physical review. B./Physical review. BJan 11, 202142 citations

Critical behavior of random surfaces in one dimension

Joseph Polchinski

Nuclear Physics BDec 1, 1990129 citations

The surface critical exponent η⊥ in the two dimensional Ising model

J. Kroemer, W. Pesch

Physics Letters AMar 1, 19793 citations

The nonordinary surface transitions at the (

2+1

)-dimensional quantum critical point precluded in the corresponding classical critical point have been found recently. The mechanism of such behavior that is only found in dimerized Heisenberg models to date is still under debate. To illuminate the role of symmetry-protected topological (SPT) phases in inducing such nonordinary behaviors, we study a system on a two-dimensional square lattice consisting of interacting spin-1 Haldane chains, which has a genuine SPT phase---the Haldane phase---at weak interchain interactions and a quantum critical point, belonging to the classical three-dimensional (3D) O(3) universality class, to the N\'eel phase. Different from previously studied models, there is no dimerization in the current model. Cutting the system along the chain direction or perpendicular to the chain direction exposes two different surfaces. Using unbiased quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we find that the two different types of surfaces show completely different surface critical behaviors at the bulk critical point, resulting from different surface states in the SPT phase. For the system with surfaces along the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is of ordinary type of the bulk 3D O(3) critical point, while for the surfaces perpendicular to the chain direction, the surface critical behavior is nonordinary, consistent with nonordinary transitions found in dimerized Heisenberg models. Our numerical results demonstrate that the gapless surface state in the gapped SPT phase together with the gapless mode of the critical point is a pure quantum scenario that leads to the nonordinary transition.