Topological Classification of Gapped Spin Chains :Quantized Berry Phase as a Local Order Parameter

We characterize several phases of gapped spin systems by local order parameters defined by quantized Berry phases. This characterization is topologically stable against any small perturbation as long as the energy gap remains finite. The models we pick up are $S=1,2$ dimerized Heisenberg chains and S=2 Heisenberg chains with uniaxial single-ion-type anisotropy. Analytically we also evaluate the topological local order parameters for the generalized Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki (AKLT) model. The relation between the present Berry phases and the fractionalization in the integer spin chains are discussed as well.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Phys. Rev.

Alternating spin chains with singlet ground states

We investigate low-energy properties of the alternating spin chain model composed of spin $s_1$ and $s_2$ with a singlet ground state. After examining the spin-wave spectrum in detail, we map low-energy spin excitations to the O(3) non-linear sigma model in order to take into account quantum fluctuations. Analyzing the topological term in the resulting sigma model, we discuss how the massless or massive excitations are developed, especially according to the topological nature of the alternating spin system.Comment: 9 pages, revtex, to appear in PR

Alternating-Spin Ladders

We investigate a two-leg spin ladder system composed of alternating-spin chains with two-different kind of spins. The fixed point properties are discussed by using spin-wave analysis and non-linear sigma model techniques. The model contains various massive phases, reflecting the interplay between the bond-alternation and the spin-alternation.Comment: 6 pages, revtex, to appear in PR

Adiabatic Ground-State Properties of Spin Chains with Twisted Boundary Conditions

We study the Heisenberg spin chain with twisted boundary conditions, focusing on the adiabatic flow of the energy spectrum as a function of the twist angle. In terms of effective field theory for the nearest-neighbor model, we show that the period 2 (in unit $2\pi$) obtained by Sutherland and Shastry arises from irrelevant perturbations around the massless fixed point, and that this period may be rather general for one-dimensional interacting lattice models at half filling. In contrast, the period for the Haldane-Shastry spin model with $1/r^2$ interaction has a different and unique origin for the period, namely, it reflects fractional statistics in Haldane's sense.Comment: 6 pages, revtex, 3 figures available on request, to appear in J. Phys. Soc. Jp

Modeling the gamma-ray emission produced by runaway cosmic rays in the environment of RX J1713.7-3946

Diffusive shock acceleration in supernova remnants is the most widely invoked paradigm to explain the Galactic cosmic ray spectrum. Cosmic rays escaping supernova remnants diffuse in the interstellar medium and collide with the ambient atomic and molecular gas. From such collisions gamma-rays are created, which can possibly provide the first evidence of a parent population of runaway cosmic rays. We present model predictions for the GeV to TeV gamma-ray emission produced by the collisions of runaway cosmic rays with the gas in the environment surrounding the shell-type supernova remnant RX J1713.7-3946. The spectral and spatial distributions of the emission, which depend upon the source age, the source injection history, the diffusion regime and the distribution of the ambient gas, as mapped by the LAB and NANTEN surveys, are studied in detail. In particular, we find for the region surrounding RX J1713-3946, that depending on the energy one is observing at, one may observe startlingly different spectra or may not detect any enhanced emission with respect to the diffuse emission contributed by background cosmic rays. This result has important implications for current and future gamma-ray experiments.Comment: version published on PAS

Phase Diagram Of The Biham-Middleton-Levine Traffic Model In Three Dimensions

We study numerically the behavior of the Biham-Middleton-Levine traffic model in three dimensions. Our extensive numerical simulations show that the phase diagram for this model in three dimensions is markedly different from that in one and two dimensions. In addition to the full speed moving as well as the completely jamming phases, whose respective average asymptotic car speeds $$ equal one and zero, we observe an extensive region of car densities $\rho$ with a low but non-zero average asymptotic car speed. The transition from this extensive low average asymptotic car speed region to the completely jamming region is at least second order. We argue that this low speed region is a result of the formation of a spatially-limited-extended percolating cluster. Thus, this low speed phase is present in $n > 3$ dimensional Biham-Middleton-Levine model as well.Comment: Minor clarifications, 1 figure adde