arXiv:cond-mat/9812409 · Physical Review Letters
Phase Diagram of a Heisenberg Spin-Peierls Model with Quantum Phonons
Robert J. Bursill, Ross H. McKenzie, Chris J. Hamer
Abstract
Using a new version of the density-matrix renormalization group we determine the phase diagram of a model of an antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin chain where the spins interact with quantum phonons. A quantum phase transition from a gapless spin-fluid state to a gapped dimerized phase occurs at a nonzero value of the spin-phonon coupling. The transition is in the same universality class as that of a frustrated spin chain, to which the model maps in the diabatic limit. We argue that realistic modeling of known spin-Peierls materials should include the effects of quantum phonons.