LINKED CLUSTER SERIES EXPANSION TECHNIQUE FOR QUANTUM SPIN SYSTEMS
Abstract
The linked-cluster series expansion is developed fur use on models of quantum spin systems with single-ion potentials. The linked-cluster series is defined as a statistical mechanical perturbation series in which the mean-field Hamiltonian and the single-ion potential are treated exactly with the perturbation representing the effects of fluctuation correlations. All terms of the free energy up to a given finite order are calculated, and estimates of thermodynamic functions are made based on extrapolation methods including the ratio method and Pade approximants.