Phase transitions in the transverse-field Ising model
Mexx E. Y. Regout
Abstract
Phase transitions in Ising models are a broadly studied subject within physics.In this thesis we will study the quantum mechanical transverse-field Ising model in order to determine analytical critical points for quantum phase transitions.This will be done by introducing the concept of fermionic operators and the Jordan-Wigner transformation.Hereafter it is possible to Fourier transform the transverse Ising Hamiltonian and derive an exact eigenenergy spectrum.With these eigenenergies it is possible to derive the condition(s) for which a phase transition can occur.This is done by looking when the eigenenergy solutions are equal to zero.This causes the system to become unstable and thus indicates a point of phase transition.Further in this thesis we will cover two different variations of the transverse-field Ising model which are the di-atomic transverse Ising chain and the frustrated Ising chain.The frustrated Ising chain will be a modification of the mono-atomic Ising chain where there is an extra interaction term introduced which will require an assumption of lowest order approximation of perturbation theory to solve analytically.I would like to thank Lars Fritz for the great learning experience as a physicist within my bachelor thesis.