Quantum Monte Carlo Loop Algorithm for the t-J Model

We propose a generalization of the Quantum Monte Carlo loop algorithm to the t-J model by a mapping to three coupled six-vertex models. The autocorrelation times are reduced by orders of magnitude compared to the conventional local algorithms. The method is completely ergodic and can be formulated directly in continuous time. We introduce improved estimators for simulations with a local sign problem. Some first results of finite temperature simulations are presented for a t-J chain, a frustrated Heisenberg chain, and t-J ladder models.Comment: 22 pages, including 12 figures. RevTex v3.0, uses psf.te

Crossover Phenomena in the One-Dimensional SU(4) Spin-Orbit Model under Magnetic Fields

We study the one-dimensional SU(4) exchange model under magnetic fields, which is the simplest effective Hamiltonian in order to investigate the quantum fluctuations concerned with the orbital degrees of freedom in coupled spin-orbit systems. The Bethe ansatz approaches and numerical calculations using the density matrix renormalization group method are employed. The main concern of the paper is how the system changes from the SU(4) to the SU(2) symmetric limit as the magnetic field is increased. For this model the conformal field theory predicts an usual behavior: there is a jump of the critical exponents just before the SU(2) limit. For a finite-size system, however, the orbital-orbital correlation functions approach continuously to the SU(2) limit after interesting crossover phenomena. The crossover takes place in the magnetization range of 1/3 $\sim$ 1/2 for the system with 72 sites studied in this paper.Comment: 8 pages, 6 Postscript figures, REVTeX, submitted to Phys. Rev.

Entropy Driven Dimerization in a One-Dimensional Spin-Orbital Model

We study a new version of the one-dimensional spin-orbital model with spins S=1 relevant to cubic vanadates. At small Hund's coupling J_H we discover dimerization in a pure electronic system solely due to a dynamical spin-orbital coupling. Above a critical value J_H, a uniform ferromagnetic state is stabilized at zero temperature. More surprisingly, we observe a temperature driven dimerization of the ferrochain, which occurs due to a large entropy released by dimer states. This dynamical dimerization seems to be the mechanism driving the peculiar intermediate phase of YVO_3.Comment: 5 pages, 4 figure

Monte Carlo Study of the Separation of Energy Scales in Quantum Spin 1/2 Chains with Bond Disorder

One-dimensional Heisenberg spin 1/2 chains with random ferro- and antiferromagnetic bonds are realized in systems such as $Sr_3 CuPt_{1-x} Ir_x O_6$. We have investigated numerically the thermodynamic properties of a generic random bond model and of a realistic model of $Sr_3 CuPt_{1-x} Ir_x O_6$ by the quantum Monte Carlo loop algorithm. For the first time we demonstrate the separation into three different temperature regimes for the original Hamiltonian based on an exact treatment, especially we show that the intermediate temperature regime is well-defined and observable in both the specific heat and the magnetic susceptibility. The crossover between the regimes is indicated by peaks in the specific heat. The uniform magnetic susceptibility shows Curie-like behavior in the high-, intermediate- and low-temperature regime, with different values of the Curie constant in each regime. We show that these regimes are overlapping in the realistic model and give numerical data for the analysis of experimental tests.Comment: 7 pages, 5 eps-figures included, typeset using JPSJ.sty, accepted for publication in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 68, Vol. 3. (1999

Lightly Doped t-J Three-Leg Ladders - an Analog for the Underdoped Cuprates

The three-leg ladder has one odd-parity and two even-parity channels. At low doping these behave quite differently. Numerical calculations for a t-J model show that the initial phase upon hole doping has two components - a conducting Luttinger liquid in the odd-parity channel, coexisting with an insulating (i.e. undoped) spin liquid phase in the even-parity channels. This phase has a partially truncated Fermi surface and violates the Luttinger theorem. This coexistence of conducting fermionic and insulating paired bosonic degrees of freedom is similar to the recent proposal of Geshkenbein, Ioffe, and Larkin for the underdoped spin-gap normal phase of the cuprates. A mean field approximation is derived which has many similarities to the numerical results. One difference however is an induced hole pairing in the odd-parity channel at arbitrary small dopings, similar to that proposed by Geshkenbein, Ioffe, and Larkin for the two-dimensional case. At higher dopings, we propose that a quantum phase transition will occur as holes enter the even-parity channels, resulting in a Luther-Emery liquid with hole pairing with essentially d-wave character. In the mean field approximation a crossover occurs which we interpret as a reflection of this quantum phase transition deduced from the numerical results.Comment: RevTex, 36 pages with 16 figure

Numerical renormalization-group study of spin correlations in one-dimensional random spin chains

We calculate the ground-state two-spin correlation functions of spin-1/2 quantum Heisenberg chains with random exchange couplings using the real-space renormalization group scheme. We extend the conventional scheme to take account of the contribution of local higher multiplet excitations in each decimation step. This extended scheme can provide highly accurate numerical data for large systems. The random average of staggered spin correlations of the chains with random antiferromagnetic (AF) couplings shows algebraic decay like $1/r^2$, which verifies the Fisher's analytic results. For chains with random ferromagnetic (FM) and AF couplings, the random average of generalized staggered correlations is found to decay more slowly than a power-law, in the form close to $1/\ln(r)$. The difference between the distribution functions of the spin correlations of the random AF chains and of the random FM-AF chains is also discussed.Comment: 14 pages including 8 figures, REVTeX, submitted to Physical Review

Single hole dynamics in the t-J model on two- and three-leg ladders

The dynamics of a single hole in the t-J model on two- (2LL) and three- (3LL) leg ladders is studied using a recently developed quantum Monte Carlo algorithm. For the 2LL it is shown that in addition to the most pronounced features of the spectral function, well described by the limit of strong coupling along the rungs, a clear shadow band appears in the antibonding channel. Moreover, both the bonding band and its shadow have a finite quasiparticle (QP) weight in the thermodynamic limit. For strong coupling along the rungs of the 3LL, the low-energy spectrum in the antisymmetric channel is similar to a one-dimensional chain, whereas in the two symmetric channels it resembles the 2LL. The QP weight vanishes in the antisymmetric channel, but is finite in the symmetric one

Phase diagram and hidden order for generalized spin ladders

We investigate the phase diagram of antiferromagnetic spin ladders with additional exchange interactions on diagonal bonds by variational and numerical methods. These generalized spin ladders interpolate smoothly between the $S=1/2$ chain with competing nn and nnn interactions, the $S=1/2$ chain with alternating exchange and the antiferromagnetic $S=1$ chain. The Majumdar-Ghosh ground states are formulated as matrix product states and are shown to exhibit the same type of hidden order as the af $S=1$ chain. Generalized matrix product states are used for a variational calculation of the ground state energy and the spin and string correlation functions. Numerical (Lanczos) calculations of the energies of the ground state and of the low-lying excited states are performed, and compare reasonably with the variational approach. Our results support the hypothesis that the dimer and Majumdar-Ghosh points are in the same phase as the af $S=1$ chain.Comment: 23 pages, REVTEX, 7 figure

Dynamics of spin ladders

We derive an approximate theory for Heisenberg spin ladders with two legs by mapping the spin dynamics onto the problem of hard-core `bond-Bosons'. The parameters of the Bosonic Hamiltonian are obtained by matching anomalous Green's functions to Lanczos results and we find evidence for a strong renormalization due to quantum fluctuations. Various dynamical spin correlation functions are calculated and found to be in good agreement with Lanczos results. We then enlarge the effective Hamiltonian to describe the coupling of the bond-Bosons to a single hole injected into the system and treat the hole-dynamics within the `rainbow-diagram' approximation by Schmidt-Rink et. al. Theoretical predictions for the single hole spectral function are obtained and found to be in good agreement with Lanczos results.Comment: RevTex-file, 10 PRB pages with 7 eps files. Hardcopies of figures (or the entire manuscript) can be obtained by e-mail request to: [email protected]