The Geometry of Antiferromagnetic Spin Chains

It has been a conjecture of F.D.M.Haldane that long-wavelength excitations around antiferromagnetic vacua of certain spin chains are related to relativistic two-dimensional σ-models. We construct a class of such spin chains and associated σ-models, using symplectic geometry as a main tool. The target space of the σ-model can be an arbitrary complex flag manifold, and we find universal expressions for the metric and θ-term. The derivation relies on the fact that the flag manifold is a Lagrangian submanifold in a direct product of Grassmannians associated (via geometric quantization) to the representations of spins at consecutive sites of the spin chain. The true goal is not to reach the uttermost limits, but to discover a completeness that knows no boundaries. Rabindranath Tagore      

Nonlinear dynamics of the classical isotropic Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain: The sigma model sector and the kink sector

We identify two distinct low-energy sectors in the classical isotropic antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin-S chain, in the continuum limit. We show that two types of rotation generators arise for the field in each sector. Using these, the Lagrangian for sector I is shown to be that of the nonlinear sigma model. Sector II has a null Lagrangian. Its Hamiltonian density is just the Pontryagin term. Exact solutions are found in the form of magnons and precessing pulses in I and moving kinks in II. The kink has ‘spin’ S. Sector I has a higher minimum energy than II.     

Generalized nonlinear sigma model approach to alternating spin chains and ladders

We generalize the nonlinear sigma model treatment of quantum spin chains to cases including ferromagnetic bonds. When these bonds are strong enough, the classical ground state is no longer the standard Néel order and we present an extension of the known formalism to deal with this situation. We study the alternating ferromagnetic-antiferromagnetic spin chain introduced by Hida. The smooth crossover between decoupled dimers and the Haldane phase is semi-quantitatively reproduced. We study also a spin ladder with diagonal exchange couplings that interpolates between the gapped phase of the two-leg spin ladder and the Haldane phase. Here again we show that there is a good agreement between DMRG data and our analytical results. Received 6 September 1999     

Spin chains and classical strings in two parameters q-deformed AdS3 × S3

In this paper, we study the spin chain and string excitation in the two-parameters q-deformed AdS₃ × S³ proposed by Hoare [6]. We obtain the deformed spin chain model at the fast spin limit for choices of deformed parameters. General ansatz for giant magnons are studied in great detail and complicated dispersion relation is treated perturbatively. We also study several types of hanging string solutions and their charges and spins are analyzed numerically. At last, we explore its pp-wave limit and find its solution only depends on the difference of deformed parameters.     

Haldane-like antiferromagnetic spin chain in the large anisotropy limit

We consider the one dimensional, periodic spin chain with N sites, similar to the one studied by Haldane [1], however in the opposite limit of very large anisotropy and small nearest neighbour, anti-ferromagnetic exchange coupling between the spins, which are of large magnitude s. For a chain with an even number of sites we show that actually the ground state is non-degenerate and given by a superposition of the two Neél states, due to quantum spin tunnelling. With an odd number of sites, the Neél state must necessarily contain a soliton. The position of the soliton is arbitrary thus the ground state is N-fold degenerate. This set of states reorganizes into a band. We show that this occurs at order 2s in perturbation theory. The ground state is non-degenerate for integer spin, but degenerate for half-odd integer spin as is required by Kramers' theorem [18].     

Microscopic Theory of the Two-Dimensional Quantum Antiferromagnet in a Paramagnetic Phase

We have developed a consistent theory of the Heisenberg quantum antiferromagnet in the disordered phase with a short range antiferromagnetic order on the basis of the path integral for spin coherent states. In the framework of our approach we have obtained the response function for the spin fluctuations for all values of the frequency ω and the wave vector k and have calculated the free energy of the system. We have also reproduced the known results for the spin correlation length in the lowest order in 1/N. We have presented the Lagrangian of the theory in a form which is explicitly invariant under rotations and found natural variables in terms of which one can construct a natural perturbation theory. The short wave spin fluctuations are similar to those in the spin wave theory and they are on the order of the smallness parameter 1/2s where s is the spin magnitude. The long-wave spin fluctuations are governed by the nonlinear sigma model and are on the order of the smallness parameter 1/N, where N is the number of field components. We also have shown that the short wave spin fluctuations must be evaluated accurately and the continuum limit in time of the path integral must be performed after the summation over the frequencies ω.     

Noncommutative linear sigma models

We examine noncommutative linear sigma models with U(N) global symmetry groups at the one-loop quantum level, and contrast the results with our previous study of the noncommutative O(N) linear sigma models where we have shown that Nambu–Goldstone symmetry realization is inconsistent with continuum renormalization. Specifically we find no violation of Goldstone's theorem at one-loop for the U(N) models with the quartic term ordering consistent with possible noncommutative gauging of the model. The difference is due to terms involving noncommutative commutator interactions, which vanish in the commutative limit. We also examine the U(2), and O(4) linear sigma models with matter in the adjoint representation, and find that the former is consistent with Goldstone's theorem at one-loop if we include only trace invariants consistent with possible noncommutative gauging of the model, while the latter exhibits violations of Goldstone's theorem of the kind seen in the fundamental of O(N) for N>2.     

In Search of Alternatives to Higgs Fields

Field equations of the S² sigma model (“the A3 model”) with spontaneously broken Z(2) symmetry are presented for (D+1)-dimensional space–time. The A3 model is an extension of the sine-Gordon equation (SGE) and supports kink-like U(1) charged solitons which are a generalization of neutral solitons of the SGE. The natural question arises — is the A3 model completely integrable in (1+1)-dimensional space–time? The Lorentz-invariant scalar A3 field can be viewed as a promising alternative to the Higgs field.     

Orthofermions versus Gutzwiller projection operator approach for the infinite U Hubbard model

A comparison of two well-known approaches for strongly correlated electron systems, namely, nested Bethe ansatz implemented through orthofermion algebra and Gutzwiller projection operator formalism, is made by calculating the energy spectrum of 1D infinite U Hubbard model for a finite system consisting of three particles on a four site anisotropic closed chain. It is shown that orthofermion algebra always leads to at least an eight hold degeneracy in the energy spectrum corresponding to all 2³ spin configurations, consistent with the nested Bethe ansatz solution leading to a N²-fold degeneracy of energy levels of an N electron system. Such a degeneracy is absent in the Gutzwiller projection operator approach. This finding shows the limitations of the Gutzwiller projection method and at the same time the relevance of orthofermion approach for the infinite U Hubbard model.     

The exact ground state and the origin of the spin gap in the distorted mixed spin (1, 1/2) diamond chain

By using the method of exact diagonalization, we investigated the properties of the distorted mixed spin (1, 1/2) diamond chain with antiferromagnetic interactions along the rung and leg. The ground states of this model contain the sawtooth chain state and the rung dimer plus Haldane state. The research on the origin of the spin gap of the model discloses that there are three different types of spin excitations at different parameter regimes due to the competition among the interactions J₁, J₂ and J₃.     

Hopf term,fractional spin and soliton operators in the O(3) non-linear sigma model

We re-examine three issues, the Hopf term, fractional spin and the soliton operators, in the 2+1 dimensional O(3) non-linear sigma model based on the adjoint orbit parametrization (AOP) introduced earlier. It is shown that the Hopf term is well defined for configurations of any soliton charge Q if we adopt a time-independent boundary condition at spatial infinity. We then develop the Hamiltonian formulation of the model in the AOP and thereby argue that the well-known Q² formula for fractional spin holds only for a restricted class of configurations. Operators that create states of given classical configurations of any soliton number in the (physical) Hilbert space are constructed. Our results clarify some of the points that are crucial for the above three topological issues and yet have remained obscure in the literature.     

Interacting boson-fermion model of collective states II. Boson-fermion symmetries connected with the U(5) limit

The boson-fermion symmetries, which are connected with the U^(B)(5) limit of the interacting boson model are discussed. These symmetries arise when the bosons have U(5) symmetry and the fermions occupy a single-particle orbit with spin $\text{j =}\text{1}\text{2}$ (Spin(3) limit), $\text{j =}\text{3}\text{2}$ (Spin(5) limit), or $\text{j =}\text{3}\text{2}\text{,}\text{5}\text{2}$ (U^(B+F)(5) ? U^(F)(2) limit). Closed expressions for energy spectra, electromagnetic transition rates, static moments, and (one and two) nucleon transfer reaction intensities are derived.     

From current to constituent quarks and the spin of the proton

We show in the context of an effective Lagrangian for baryons and pseudoscalar mesons how derivative couplings to Goldstone bosons modify the axial charges. Applying these considerations to constituent quarks we relate a modification of their axialU(1) charges to their internal structure which is represented here in term of a flavour singletφ ⁰ field attached to quarks. We end up with aSU (6)-type constituent quark model which describes the experimental results very well.     

A scaling limit with many noncommutativity parameters

We derive the worldsheet propagator for an open string with different magnetic fields at the two ends, and use it to compute two distinct noncommutativity parameters, one at each end of the string. The usual scaling limit that leads to noncommutative Yang–Mills can be generalized to a scaling limit in which both noncommutativity parameters enter. This corresponds to expanding a theory with U(N) Chan–Paton factors around a background U(1)^N gauge field with different magnetic fields in each U(1).     

Quantum mechanically induced Hopf term in the O(3) nonlinear sigma model

The Hopf term in the (2+ 1)-dimensional O(3) nonlinear sigma model, which is known to be responsible for fractional spin and statistics, is re-examined from the viewpoint of quantization ambiguity. It is confirmed that the Hopf term can be understood as a term induced quantum mechanically, in precisely the same manner as the θ-term in QCD. We present a detailed analysis of the topological aspect of the model based on the adjoint orbit parametrization of the spin vectors, which is not only very useful in handling topological (soliton and/or Hopf) numbers, but also plays a crucial role in defining the Hopf term for configurations of nonvanishing soliton numbers. The Hopf term is seen to arise explicitly as a quantum effect which emerges when quantizing an S¹ degree of freedom hidden in the configuration space.     

Unconventional spin-charge phase separation in a model 2D cuprate

In this work, we address a challenging problem of a competition of charge and spin orders for high-T _c cuprates within a simplified 2D spin-pseudospin model which takes into account both conventional Heisenberg Cu²⁺?Cu²⁺ antiferromagnetic spin exchange coupling (J) and the on-site (U) and intersite (V) charge correlations in the CuO₂ planes with the on-site Hilbert space reduced to only three effective charge states (nominally Cu^1+;2+;3+). We performed classical Monte Carlo calculations for large square lattices implying the mobile doped charges and focusing on a case of a small intersite repulsion V ? J. The on-site attraction (U < 0) does suppress the antiferromagnetic ordering and gives rise to a checkerboard charge order with the doped charge distributed randomly over a system in the whole temperature range. However, under the on-site repulsion (U > 0) the homogeneous ground state antiferromagnetic solutions of the doped system found in a mean-field approximation are shown to be unstable with respect to a phase separation with the charge and spin subsystems behaving like immiscible quantum liquids. Puzzlingly, with lowering the temperature one can observe two sequential phase transitions: first, an antiferromagnetic ordering in the spin subsystem diluted by randomly distributed charges, then, a charge condensation in the charge droplets. The effects are illustrated by the Monte Carlo calculations of the specific heat and longitudinal magnetic susceptibility.     

Hestenes' Tetrad and Spin Connections

Defining a spin connection is necessary for formulating Dirac's bispinor equation in a curved space-time. Hestenes has shown that a bispinor field is equivalent to an orthonormal tetrad of vector fields together with a complex scalar field. In this paper, we show that using Hestenes' tetrad for the spin connection in a Riemannian space-time leads to a Yang-Mills formulation of the Dirac Lagrangian in which the bispinor field Ψ is mapped to a set of SL(2,R)× U(1) gauge potentials F_α^K and a complex scalar field ρ. This result was previously proved for a Minkowski space-time using Fierz identities. As an application we derive several different non-Riemannian spin connections found in the literature directly from an arbitrary linear connection acting on the tensor fields (F_α^K, ρ). We also derive spin connections for which Dirac's bispinor equation is form invariant. Previous work has not considered form invariance of the Dirac equation as a criterion for defining a general spin connection.     

Chern–Simons theory with vector fermion matter

We study three-dimensional conformal field theories described by U(N) Chern?CSimons theory at level k coupled to massless fermions in the fundamental representation. By solving a Schwinger?CDyson equation in light-cone gauge, we compute the exact planar free energy of the theory at finite temperature on ?² as a function of the ??t?Hooft coupling ??=N/k. Employing a dimensional reduction regularization scheme, we find that the free energy vanishes at |??|=1; the conformal theory does not exist for |??|>1. We analyze the operator spectrum via the anomalous conservation relation for higher spin currents, and in particular show that the higher spin currents do not develop anomalous dimensions at leading order in 1/N. We present an integral equation whose solution in principle determines all correlators of these currents at leading order in 1/N and present explicit perturbative results for all three-point functions up to two loops. We also discuss a light-cone Hamiltonian formulation of this theory where a W _?? algebra arises. The maximally supersymmetric version of our theory is ABJ model with one gauge group taken to be U(1), demonstrating that a pure higher spin gauge theory arises as a limit of string theory.