Magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of the spin-${\frac{1}{2}}$ Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice and experimental data on ZnCu3(OH)6Cl2

We compute the magnetic susceptibility and specific heat of the spin- Heisenberg model on the kagome lattice with high-temperature expansions and exact diagonalizations. We compare the results with the experimental data on ZnCu₃(OH)₆Cl₂ obtained by Helton et al. [Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 107204 (2007)]. Down to k_BT/J≃0.2, our calculations reproduce accurately the experimental susceptibility, with an exchange interaction J≃190 K and a contribution of 3.7% of weakly interacting impurity spins. The comparison between our calculations of the specific heat and the experiments indicate that the low-temperature entropy (below ~20 K) is smaller in ZnCu₃(OH)₆Cl₂ than in the kagome Heisenberg model, a likely signature of other interactions in the system.     

XXZ-like phase in the F-AF anisotropic Heisenberg chain

By means of the Density Matrix Renormalization Group technique, we have studied the region where XXZ-like behavior is most likely to emerge within the phase diagram of the F-AF anisotropic extended (J-J’) Heisenberg chain. We have analyzed, in great detail, the equal-time two-spin correlation functions, both in- and out-of- plane, as functions of the distance (and momentum). Then, we have extracted, through an accurate fitting procedure, the exponents of the asymptotic power-law decay of the spatial correlations. We have used the exact solution of XXZ model (J’ = 0) to benchmark our results, which clearly show the expected agreement. A critical value of J’ has been found where the relevant power-law decay exponent is independent of the in-plane nearest-neighbor coupling.     

Magnetic phase diagram of the dimerized spin S = 1/2 ladder

The ground-state magnetic phase diagram of a spin S=1/2 two-leg ladder with alternating rung exchange J_⊥(n)=J_⊥[1 + (-1)ⁿ δ] is studied using the analytical and numerical approaches. In the limit where the rung exchange is dominant, we have mapped the model onto the effective quantum sine-Gordon model with topological term and identified two quantum phase transitions at magnetization equal to the half of saturation value from a gapped to the gapless regime. These quantum transitions belong to the universality class of the commensurate-incommensurate phase transition. We have also shown that the magnetization curve of the system exhibits a plateau at magnetization equal to the half of the saturation value. We also present a detailed numerical analysis of the low energy excitation spectrum and the ground state magnetic phase diagram of the ladder with rung-exchange alternation using Lanczos method of numerical diagonalizations for ladders with number of sites up to N = 28. We have calculated numerically the magnetic field dependence of the low-energy excitation spectrum, magnetization and the on-rung spin-spin correlation function. We have also calculated the width of the magnetization plateau and show that it scales as δ^ν, where critical exponent varies from ν = 0.87±0.01 in the case of a ladder with isotropic antiferromagnetic legs to ν = 1.82±0.01 in the case of ladder with ferromagnetic legs. Obtained numerical results are in an complete agreement with estimations made within the continuum-limit approach.     

Gap-behavior in the vicinity of a saturation transverse field

We have studied the behavior of the energy gap of the 1D AF spin- XXZ model in a transverse magnetic field (h) using the exact diagonalization technique. The ground state phase diagram consists of two spin-flop and paramagnetic phases. Using a modified finite-size scaling approach, we have computed the critical exponent of the energy gap in the vicinity of the critical transverse field h_c(Δ). Our numerical results confirm that the continuous phase transition from the spin-flop phase to the paramagnetic one is in the universality class of the Ising model in the transverse field (ITF). By applying conformal estimates of a small perturbation (h≪1), we have also justified our numerical results.     

Entangled quantum heat engines based on two two-spin systems with Dzyaloshinski-Moriya anisotropic antisymmetric interaction

We construct an entangled quantum heat engine (EQHE) based on two two-spin systems with Dzyaloshinski-Moriya (DM) anisotropic antisymmetric interaction. By applying the explanations of heat transferred and work performed at the quantum level in Kieu’s work [Phys. Rev. Lett. 93, 140403 (2004)], the basic thermodynamic quantities, i.e., heat transferred, net work done in a cycle and efficiency of EQHE are investigated in terms of DM interaction and concurrence. The validity of the second law of thermodynamics is confirmed in the entangled system. It is found that there is a same efficiency for both antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic cases, and the efficiency can be controlled in two manners: (1) only by spin-spin interaction J and DM interaction D; (2) only by the temperature T and concurrence C. In order to obtain a positive net work, we need not entangle all qubits in two two-spin systems and we only require the entanglement between qubits in a two-spin system not be zero. As the ratio of entanglement between qubits in two two-spin systems increases, the efficiency will approach infinitely the classical Carnot one. An interesting phenomenon is an abrupt transition of the efficiency when the entanglements between qubits in two two-spin systems are equal.     

Exact ground state of a spin ladder with a quantum phase transition

We introduce a spin ladder with Ising interactions along the legs and intrinsically frustrated Heisenberg-like ferromagnetic interactions on the rungs. The model is solved exactly in the subspaces relevant for the ground state by mapping to the quantum Ising model, and we show that a first order quantum phase transition separates the classical from quantum regime, with the spin correlations on the rungs being either ferromagnetic or antiferromagnetic, and different spin excitations in both regimes. The present case resembles the quantum phase transition found in the compass model in one and two dimensions.     

Exact ground state of the generalized three-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland model

We generalize the Shastry-Sutherland model to three dimensions. By representing the model as a sum of the semidefinite positive projection operators, we exactly prove that the model has exact dimer ground state. Several schemes for constructing the three-dimensional Shastry-Sutherland model are proposed. Received 20 February 2002 / Received in final form 27 May 2002 Published online 17 September 2002     

Exactly solvable spin ladder model with degenerate ferromagnetic and singlet states

We study the spin ladder model with interactions between spins on neighboring rungs. The model Hamiltonian with the exact singlet ground state degenerated with ferromagnetic state is obtained. The singlet ground state wave function has a special recurrent form and depends on two parameters. Spin correlations in the singlet ground state show double-spiral structure with period of spirals equals to the system size. For special values of parameters they have exponential decay. The spectrum of the model is gapless and there are asymptotically degenerated excited states for special values of parameters in the thermodynamic limit. Received 7 May 1999     

On the ground state of ferromagnetic Hamiltonians

It is generally believed that the ground state of the ferromagnetic Heisenberg-Dirac-Van Vleck Hamiltonians acting ons=1/2 spins of a lattice withN sites has the maximum possible value of the total spinS=N/2 and isN+1 times degenerate. We present a rigorous proof of this statement, independent of the lattice dimension and topology. A member of the Doppler Institute of Mathematical Physics, Faculty of Nuclear Sciences and Physical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Prague.     

Quantum phase transition in the two-dimensional XY model with single-ion anisotropy

In this paper we study the quantum phase transition and low temperature behavior in a square lattice quantum two-dimensional XY model with single-ion anisotropy and spin S=1. Starting with the Villain representation, a Landau-Ginzburg expression is written. The large D phase is studied using the bond operator formalism.     

Far-infrared probe of size dispersion and population fluctuations in doped self-assembled quantum dots

We investigate the FIR magneto-optical transitions in doped self-assembled InAs quantum dots with an average filling ranging from 0.6 to 6 electrons per dot. Significant changes in the magnetic field dispersion, the line-width and the amplitude of the transitions are observed as the doping level is varied, in agreement with our theoretical calculations. We show that our technique is an effective tool to obtain informations regarding the dot size homogeneity and the electron filling uniformity.Received: 22 July 2003, Published online: 2 October 2003PACS: 73.21.La Quantum dots - 78.20.Ls Magnetooptical effects - 78.30.Fs III-V and II-VI semiconductors - 78.67.Hc Quantum dotsE. Deleporte: Present address: Laboratoire de Photonique Quantique et Moleculaire, École Normale Superieure de Cachan, 94235 Cachan Cedex, FranceJ.M. Gérard: Present address: CEA-Grenoble DRFMC/SP2M/PSC, Laboratoire de Physique des semiconducteurs, 38054 Grenoble, France     

Quantum spin-{3 \over 2} models on the Cayley tree - optimum ground state approach

We present a class of optimum ground states for quantum spin- models on the Cayley tree with coordination number 3. The interaction is restricted to nearest neighbours and contains 5 continuous parameters. For all values of these parameters the Hamiltonian has parity invariance, spin-flip invariance, and rotational symmetry in the xy-plane of spin space. The global ground states are constructed in terms of a 1-parametric vertex state model, which is a direct generalization of the well-known matrix product ground state approach. By using recursion relations and the transfer matrix technique we derive exact analytical expressions for local fluctuations and longitudinal and transversal two-point correlation functions. Received 1 March 1999     

Cu cap layer on Ni8/Cu(001): reorientation and TC-shift

Adding a non-magnetic Cu overlayer on Ni₈/Cu(001) is known to induce the reorientation of the magnetic easy axis from in-plane to out-of-plane and to reduce the Curie temperature. In this paper both effects are described on the same footing using an effective Heisenberg trilayer. The model takes into account thermal fluctuations of the magnetization and allows to separate explicitly between two possible mechanisms behind the experimental observations, namely between a reduction of the magnetic moment by hybridization and a lattice relaxation at the Ni/Cu interface. Ferromagnetic resonance data for the reorientation and the decreased Curie temperature due to the Cu cap layer are best reproduced by assuming a reduction of the magnetic moment at the interface by ≈1/3.     

Magnetic properties of DyNi<Subscript>2</Subscript>B<Subscript>2</Subscript>C studied with a two-ion model for antiferromagnets

In a rare-earth antiferromagnet, two neighboring magnetic ions order spontaneously in opposite directions below the Néel temperature. Especially when it is placed in an external magnetic field, the two magnetic ions react to the field in different ways, so that they usually have different magnitudes and orientations below the magnetic transition temperature. Therefore, to describe the magnetic structure of an antiferromagnet, the single-ion ferromagnetic-like model is inadequate. To solve this problem, a two-ion model for rare-earth antiferromagnets is proposed and used in this work to investigate the magnetic properties of DyNi₂B₂C. The magnetic susceptibility curves obtained with this model show good agreements with experimental data.     

Plaquette ground state in the two-dimensional SU(4) spin-orbital model

In order to understand the properties of Mott insulators with strong ground state orbital fluctuations, we study the zero temperature properties of the SU(4) spin-orbital model on a square lattice. Exact diagonalizations of finite clusters suggest that the ground state is disordered with a singlet-multiplet gap and possibly low-lying SU(4) singlets in the gap. An interpretation in terms of plaquette SU(4) singlets is proposed. The implications for LiNiO₂ are discussed. Received 6 July 2000     

Heisenberg antiferromagnets with uniaxial exchange and cubic anisotropies in a field

Classical Heisenberg antiferromagnets with uniaxial exchange anisotropy and a cubic anisotropy term in a field on simple cubic lattices are studied with the help of ground state considerations and extensive Monte Carlo simulations. Especially, we analyze the role of non-collinear structures of biconical type occurring in addition to the well-known antiferromagnetic and spin-flop structures. Pertinent phase diagrams are determined, and compared to previous findings.     

Dynamic properties of a symmetric spin nanocontact

This paper describes a theoretical study, at a microscopic scale, of the properties of a symmetric magnetic nanocontact. In particular, we study a symmetric nanocontact separating two waveguide groups of semi-infinite spin ordered ferromagnetic monatomic chains. The individual and total conductance of bulk magnons of the chains, scattering coherently at the nanocontact, and the localised density of spin states in the nanocontact domain, are calculated and analysed. The inter-atomic magnetic exchange is varied on the nanocontact to investigate the consequences of magnetic softening and hardening for the calculated properties. Transmission and reflection scattering cross sections are calculated from elements of a Landauer type scattering matrix. The results highlight the localized spin states on the nanocontact domain and their interactions with incident magnons. The results demonstrate also the magnetic and symmetry properties of the nanocontact domain.     

Phase diagram of frustrated mixed-spin ladders in the strong-coupling limit

We study the ground-state properties of frustrated Heisenberg ferrimagnetic ladders with antiferromagnetic exchange interactions and two types of alternating sublattice spins. In the limit of strong rung couplings, we show that the mixed spin-1/2 and spin-1 ladders can be systematically mapped onto a spin-1/2 Heisenberg model with additional next-nearest-neighbor exchanges. The system is either in a ferrimagnetic state or in a critical spin-liquid state depending on the competition between the spin exchanges along the legs and the diagonal exchanges.     

Low temperature thermodynamics of inverse square spin models in one dimension

We present a field-theoretic renormalization group calculation in two loop order for classical O(N)-models with an inverse square interaction in the vicinity of their lower critical dimensionality one. The magnetic susceptibility at low temperatures is shown to diverge like with a=(N-2)/(N-1) and . From a comparison with the exactly solvable Haldane-Shastry model we find that the same temperature dependence applies also to ferromagnetic quantum spin chains. Received: 20 February 1998 / Revised: 27 April 1998 / Accepted: 30 April 1998