Commensurate and incommensurate correlations in Haldane gap antiferromagnets

We analyze the onset of incommensurabilities around the VBS point of the S=1 bilinear-biquadratic model. We propose a simple effective field theory which is capable of reproducing all known properties of the commensurate-incommensurate transition at the disorder point $\theta_{\rm vbs}$. Moreover, the theory predicts another special point $\theta_{\rm disp}$, distinct from the VBS point, where the Haldane gap behaves singularly. The ground state energy density is an analytic function of the model parameters everywhere, thus we do not have phase transitions in the conventional sense.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, to appear in PR

Novel massless phase of Haldane-gap antiferromagnets in magnetic field

The behavior of Haldane-gap antiferromagnets in strong magnetic field is not universal. While the low-energy physics of the conventional 1D spin-1 Heisenberg model in its magnetized regime is described by one incommensurate soft mode, other systems with somewhat perturbed coupling constants can possess two characteristic soft modes in a certain range of the field strength. Such a {\em two}-component Lutinger liquid phase is realised above the massive Haldane-gap phase, and in general above any massive nonmagnetic phase, when the ground state exhibits short range incommensurate fluctuations already in the absence of the field.Comment: 4 pages, 2 eps figures, to appear in Phys Rev B: Rapid Communication

Search for the Nondimerized Quantum Nematic Phase in the Spin-1 Chain

Chubukov's proposal concerning the possibility of a nondimerized quantum nematic phase in the ground-state phase diagram of the bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain is studied numerically. Our results do not support the existence of this phase, but they rather indicate a direct transition from the ferromagnetic into the dimerized phase.Comment: REVTEX, 14 pages +8 PostScript figure

Onset of incommensurability in quantum spin chains

In quantum spin chains, it has been observed that the incommensurability occurs near valence-bond-solid (VBS)-type solvable points, and the correlation length becomes shortest at VBS-type points. Besides, the correlation function decays purely exponentially at VBS-type points, in contrast with the two-dimensional (2D) Ornstein-Zernicke type behavior in the other region with an excitation gap. We propose a mechanism to explain the onset of the incommensurability and the shortest correlation length at VBS-like points. This theory can be applicable for more general cases.Comment: 9 pages, 2 figure

Maximized string order parameters in the valence bond solid states of quantum integer spin chains

We propose a set of maximized string order parameters to describe the hidden topological order in the valence bond solid states of quantum integer spin-S chains. These optimized string order parameters involve spin-twist angles corresponding to $Z_{S+1}$ rotations around $z$ or $x$-axes, suggesting a hidden $Z_{S+1}\times Z_{S+1}$ symmetry. Our results also suggest that a local triplet excitation in the valence bond solid states carries a $Z_{S+1}$ topological charge measured by these maximized string order parameters.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figur

Probable absence of a quadrupolar spin-nematic phase in the bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain

We study numerically the ground-state phase diagram of the bilinear-biquadratic spin-1 chain near the ferromagnetic instability point, where the existence of a gapped or gapless nondimerized quantum nematic phase has been suggested. Our results, obtained by a highly accurate density-matrix renormalization-group (DMRG) calculation are consistent with the view that the order parameter characterizing the dimer phase vanishes only at the point where the system becomes ferromagnetic, although the existence of a gapped or gapless nondimerized phase in a very narrow parameter range between the ferromagnetic and the dimerized regimes cannot be ruled out.Comment: 6 pages, 6 figure

The phase diagram of magnetic ladders constructed from a composite-spin model

White's density matrix renormalization group ({DMRG}) method has been applied to an $S= 1/2 + 1/2$ composite-spin model, which can also be considered as a two-leg ladder model. By appropriate choices of the coupling constants this model allows not only to study how the gap is opened around the gapless integrable models, but also to interpolate continuously between models with different spin lengths. We have found indications for the existence of several different massive phases.Comment: 30 pages, 8 Postscript figure

Four-spin-exchange- and magnetic-field-induced chiral order in two-leg spin ladders

We propose a mechanism of a vector chiral long-range order in two-leg spin-1/2 and spin-1 antiferromagnetic ladders with four-spin exchanges and a Zeeman term. It is known that for one-dimensional quantum systems, spontaneous breakdown of continuous symmetries is generally forbidden. Any vector chiral order hence does not appear in spin-rotationally [SU(2)]-symmetric spin ladders. However, if a magnetic field is added along the S^z axis of ladders and the SU(2) symmetry is reduced to the U(1) one, the z component of a vector chiral order can emerge with the remaining U(1) symmetry unbroken. Making use of Abelian bosonization techniques, we actually show that a certain type of four-spin exchange can yield a vector chiral long-range order in spin-1/2 and spin-1 ladders under a magnetic field. In the chiral-ordered phase, the Z_2 interchain-parity (i.e., chain-exchange) symmetry is spontaneously broken. We also consider effects of perturbations breaking the parity symmetry.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figure, RevTex, published versio

Unveiling Order behind Complexity: Coexistence of Ferromagnetism and Bose-Einstein Condensation

We present an algebraic framework for identifying the order parameter and the possible phases of quantum systems that is based on identifying the local dimension $N$ of the quantum operators and using the SU(N) group representing the generators of generalized spin-particle mappings. We illustrate this for $N$=3 by presenting for any spatial dimension the exact solution of the bilinear-biquadratic $S$=1 quantum Heisenberg model at a high symmetry point. Through this solution we rigorously show that itinerant ferromagnetism and Bose-Einstein condensation may coexist.Comment: 5 pages, 1 psfigur

Holonomic quantum computing in symmetry-protected ground states of spin chains

While solid-state devices offer naturally reliable hardware for modern classical computers, thus far quantum information processors resemble vacuum tube computers in being neither reliable nor scalable. Strongly correlated many body states stabilized in topologically ordered matter offer the possibility of naturally fault tolerant computing, but are both challenging to engineer and coherently control and cannot be easily adapted to different physical platforms. We propose an architecture which achieves some of the robustness properties of topological models but with a drastically simpler construction. Quantum information is stored in the symmetry-protected degenerate ground states of spin-1 chains, while quantum gates are performed by adiabatic non-Abelian holonomies using only single-site fields and nearest-neighbor couplings. Gate operations respect the symmetry, and so inherit some protection from noise and disorder from the symmetry-protected ground states.Comment: 19 pages, 4 figures. v2: published versio