We study spin-Peierls structural lattice instabilities for a spin-1/2 isotropic $XY$ chain with three-site interactions of $(XZX+YZY)$ type. Within the adopted adiabatic treatment we have to examine the ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy of the spin chain with exchange couplings varying coherently with a possible static lattice distortion pattern. Since the considered spin model can be converted into a system of noninteracting spinless fermions the required ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy can be calculated accurately without making any approximations. We examine rigorously several lattice distortion patterns focusing on dimerized and trimerized ones, which owe their presence to the spin-Peierls mechanism. We present phase diagrams illustrating the effect of the three-site interaction on the spin-Peierls lattice distortions. Finally we discuss some properties of the deformable spin chain in the ground state and at finite temperatures. In particular, we examine the transverse magnetization, the static transverse susceptibility and the specific heat illustrating the changes in these quantities due to lattice instabilities.We study spin-Peierls structural lattice instabilities for a spin-1/2 isotropic $XY$ chain with three-site interactions of $(XZX+YZY)$ type. Within the adopted adiabatic treatment we have to examine the ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy of the spin chain with exchange couplings varying coherently with a possible static lattice distortion pattern. Since the considered spin model can be converted into a system of noninteracting spinless fermions the required ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy can be calculated accurately without making any approximations. We examine rigorously several lattice distortion patterns focusing on dimerized and trimerized ones, which owe their presence to the spin-Peierls mechanism. We present phase diagrams illustrating the effect of the three-site interaction on the spin-Peierls lattice distortions. Finally we discuss some properties of the deformable spin chain in the ground state and at finite temperatures. In particular, we examine the transverse magnetization, the static transverse susceptibility and the specific heat illustrating the changes in these quantities due to lattice instabilities.

Physical Review BMar 11, 200916 citations

On Magnetic Models in Wavefunction Ensembles

Leonardo De Carlo, W. David Wick

In a wavefunction-only philosophy, thermodynamics must be recast in terms of an ensemble of wavefunctions. In this perspective we study how to construct Gibbs ensembles for magnetic quantum spin models. We show that with free boundary conditions and distinguishable “spins” there are no finite-temperature phase transitions because of high dimensionality of the phase space. Then we focus on the simplest case, namely the mean-field (Curie–Weiss) model, in order to discover whether phase transitions are even possible in this model class. This strategy at least diminishes the dimensionality of the problem. We found that, even assuming exchange symmetry in the wavefunctions, no finite-temperature phase transitions appear when the Hamiltonian is given by the usual energy expression of quantum mechanics (in this case the analytical argument is not totally satisfactory and we relied partly on a computer analysis). However, a variant model with additional “wavefunction energy” does have a phase transition to a magnetized state. (With respect to dynamics, which we do not consider here, wavefunction energy induces a non-linearity which nevertheless preserves norm and energy. This non-linearity becomes significant only at the macroscopic level.) The three results together suggest that magnetization in large wavefunction spin chains appears if and only if we consider indistinguishable particles and block macroscopic dispersion (i.e., macroscopic superpositions) by energy conservation. Our principle technique involves transforming the problem to one in probability theory, then applying results from large deviations, particularly the Gärtner–Ellis Theorem. Finally, we discuss Gibbs vs. Boltzmann/Einstein entropy in the choice of the quantum thermodynamic ensemble, as well as open problems.In a wavefunction-only philosophy, thermodynamics must be recast in terms of an ensemble of wavefunctions. In this perspective we study how to construct Gibbs ensembles for magnetic quantum spin models. We show that with free boundary conditions and distinguishable “spins” there are no finite-temperature phase transitions because of high dimensionality of the phase space. Then we focus on the simplest case, namely the mean-field (Curie–Weiss) model, in order to discover whether phase transitions are even possible in this model class. This strategy at least diminishes the dimensionality of the problem. We found that, even assuming exchange symmetry in the wavefunctions, no finite-temperature phase transitions appear when the Hamiltonian is given by the usual energy expression of quantum mechanics (in this case the analytical argument is not totally satisfactory and we relied partly on a computer analysis). However, a variant model with additional “wavefunction energy” does have a phase transition to a magnetized state. (With respect to dynamics, which we do not consider here, wavefunction energy induces a non-linearity which nevertheless preserves norm and energy. This non-linearity becomes significant only at the macroscopic level.) The three results together suggest that magnetization in large wavefunction spin chains appears if and only if we consider indistinguishable particles and block macroscopic dispersion (i.e., macroscopic superpositions) by energy conservation. Our principle technique involves transforming the problem to one in probability theory, then applying results from large deviations, particularly the Gärtner–Ellis Theorem. Finally, we discuss Gibbs vs. Boltzmann/Einstein entropy in the choice of the quantum thermodynamic ensemble, as well as open problems.

arXiv:2208.07688EntropyMar 25, 20230 citations

Dynamical correlation functions for linear spin chains

Gerhard Müller, H. Beck

Physica B+CJan 1, 19771 citation

Magnetic phase diagram of a spin-1/2 X X Z chain with modulated Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction

G. I. Japaridze, Hadi Cheraghi, S. Mahdavifar

We consider the ground-state phase diagram of a one-dimensional spin-1/2 XXZ chain with a spatially modulated Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in the presence of an alternating magnetic field applied along the z[over ̂] axis. The model is studied using the continuum-limit bosonization approach and the finite system exact numerical technique. In the absence of a magnetic field, the ground-state phase diagram of the model includes, besides the ferromagnetic and gapless Luttinger-liquid phases, two gapped phases: the composite (C1) phase characterized by the coexistence of long-range-ordered (LRO) alternating dimerization and spin chirality patterns, and the composite (C2) phase characterized by, in addition to the coexisting spin dimerization and alternating chirality patterns, the presence of LRO antiferromagnetic order. In the case of mentioned composite gapped phases, and in the case of a uniform magnetic field, the commensurate-incommensurate type quantum phase transitions from a gapful phase into a gapless phase have been identified and described using the bosonization treatment and finite chain exact diagonalization studies. The upper critical magnetic field corresponding to the transition into a fully polarized state has been also determined. It has been shown that the very presence of a staggered component of the magnetic field vapes the composite (C1) in favor of the composite gapped (C2) phase.We consider the ground-state phase diagram of a one-dimensional spin-1/2 XXZ chain with a spatially modulated Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interaction in the presence of an alternating magnetic field applied along the z[over ̂] axis. The model is studied using the continuum-limit bosonization approach and the finite system exact numerical technique. In the absence of a magnetic field, the ground-state phase diagram of the model includes, besides the ferromagnetic and gapless Luttinger-liquid phases, two gapped phases: the composite (C1) phase characterized by the coexistence of long-range-ordered (LRO) alternating dimerization and spin chirality patterns, and the composite (C2) phase characterized by, in addition to the coexisting spin dimerization and alternating chirality patterns, the presence of LRO antiferromagnetic order. In the case of mentioned composite gapped phases, and in the case of a uniform magnetic field, the commensurate-incommensurate type quantum phase transitions from a gapful phase into a gapless phase have been identified and described using the bosonization treatment and finite chain exact diagonalization studies. The upper critical magnetic field corresponding to the transition into a fully polarized state has been also determined. It has been shown that the very presence of a staggered component of the magnetic field vapes the composite (C1) in favor of the composite gapped (C2) phase.

arXiv:2106.15714Physical review. EJul 26, 202115 citations

Spin waves in linear magnetic chains

Martin Blume, George H. Vineyard, Richard E. Watson

Physics Letters AJan 1, 197515 citations

We study spin-Peierls structural lattice instabilities for a spin-1/2 isotropic

XY

chain with three-site interactions of

(XZX+YZY)

type. Within the adopted adiabatic treatment we have to examine the ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy of the spin chain with exchange couplings varying coherently with a possible static lattice distortion pattern. Since the considered spin model can be converted into a system of noninteracting spinless fermions the required ground-state energy or the Helmholtz free energy can be calculated accurately without making any approximations. We examine rigorously several lattice distortion patterns focusing on dimerized and trimerized ones, which owe their presence to the spin-Peierls mechanism. We present phase diagrams illustrating the effect of the three-site interaction on the spin-Peierls lattice distortions. Finally we discuss some properties of the deformable spin chain in the ground state and at finite temperatures. In particular, we examine the transverse magnetization, the static transverse susceptibility and the specific heat illustrating the changes in these quantities due to lattice instabilities.