The J1-J2 model: First order phase transition versus deconfinement of spinons

We revisit the phase transition from the N\'eel ordered to a valence bond solid (VBS) state in the two-dimensional $J_1-J_2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model. In the first part we address the question whether or not this transition could be an example of a second order phase transition due to a deconfinement of spinons. We give arguments based on series expansion and spin-wave theory that this is not the case and the transition is most likely first order. The method proposed here to detect first order phase transitions seems to be very sensitive and might be useful in other models as well. In the second part we analyze possible VBS patterns in the magnetically disordered phase based on numerical data for different susceptibilities, obtained in the ordered phase, which test the breaking of lattice symmetries. We conclude that a columnar dimerization pattern is the most likely candidate.Comment: 7 pages, 7 figures, small changes, references adde

Ab Initio Treatments of the Ising Model in a Transverse Field

In this article, new results are presented for the zero-temperature ground-state properties of the spin-half transverse Ising model on various lattices using three different approximate techniques. These are, respectively, the coupled cluster method, the correlated basis function method, and the variational quantum Monte Carlo method. The methods, at different levels of approximation, are used to study the ground-state properties of these systems, and the results are found to be in excellent agreement both with each other and with results of exact calculations for the linear chain and results of exact cumulant series expansions for lattices of higher spatial dimension. The different techniques used are compared and contrasted in the light of these results, and the constructions of the approximate ground-state wave functions are especially discussed.Comment: 28 Pages, 4 Figures, 1 Tabl

Ab Initio Calculation of Spin Gap Behavior in CaV4O9

Second neighbor dominated exchange coupling in CaV4O9 has been obtained from ab initio density functional (DF) calculations. A DF-based self-consistent atomic deformation model reveals that the nearest neighbor coupling is small due to strong cancellation among the various superexchange processes. Exact diagonalization of the predicted Heisenberg model yields spin-gap behavior in good agreement with experiment. The model is refined by fitting to the experimental susceptibility. The resulting model agrees very well with the experimental susceptibility and triplet dispersion.Comment: 4 pages; 3 ps figures included in text; Revte

Novel approach to description of spin liquid phases in low-dimensional quantum antiferromagnets

We consider quantum spin systems with dimerization, which at strong coupling have singlet ground states. To account for strong correlations, the excitations are described as dilute Bose gas of degenerate triplets with infinite on-site repulsion. This approach is applied to the two-layer Heisenberg model at zero temperature with general couplings. Our analytic results for the triplet gap, the excitation spectrum and the location of the quantum critical point are in excellent agreement with numerical results, obtained by dimer series expansions.Comment: 4 pages, REVTex, 3 Postscript figure

Quantum and classical criticalities in the frustrated two-leg Heisenberg ladder

This talk was about the frustration-induced criticality in the antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on the two-leg ladder with exchange interactions along the chains, rungs, and diagonals, and also about the effect of thermal fluctuations on this criticlity. The method used is the bond mean-field theory, which is based on the Jordan-Wigner transformation in dimensions higher than one. In this paper, we will summarize the main results presented in this talk, and report on new results about the couplings and temperature dependences of the spin susceptibility.Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures, talk presented at the Theory Canada 3 conference in 2007, submitted to the Canadian Journal of Physic

Phase Diagram of the BCC S=1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnet with First and Second Neighbor Exchange

We use linked-cluster series expansions, both at T=0 and high temperature, to analyse the phase structure of the spin-\half Heisenberg antiferromagnet with competing first and second-neighbor interactions on the 3-dimensional body-centred-cubic lattice. At zero temperature we find a first-order quantum phase transition at $J_2/J_1 \simeq 0.705 \pm 0.005$ between AF$_1$ (Ne\'el) and AF$_2$ ordered phases. The high temperature series yield quite accurate estimates of the bounding critical line for the AF$_1$ phase, and an apparent critical line for the AF$_2$ phase, with a bicritical point at $J_1/J_2\simeq 0.71$, $kT/J_1\simeq 0.34$. The possibility that this latter transition is first-order cannot be excluded.Comment: 10 pages, 4 figure

HGF/c-met/Stat3 signaling during skin tumor cell invasion: indications for a positive feedback loop

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Stat3 is a cytokine- and growth factor-inducible transcription factor that regulates cell motility, migration, and invasion under normal and pathological situations, making it a promising target for cancer therapeutics. The hepatocyte growth factor (HGF)/c-met receptor tyrosine kinase signaling pathway is responsible for stimulation of cell motility and invasion, and Stat3 is responsible for at least part of the c-met signal.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We have stably transfected a human squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell line (SRB12-p9) to force the expression of a dominant negative form of Stat3 (S3DN), which we have previously shown to suppress Stat3 activity. The <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo </it>malignant behavior of the S3DN cells was compared to parental and vector transfected controls.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Suppression of Stat3 activity impaired the ability of the S3DN cells to scatter upon stimulation with HGF (c-met ligand), enhanced their adhesion, and diminished their capacity to invade <it>in vitro </it>and <it>in vivo</it>. Surprisingly, S3DN cells also showed suppressed HGF-induced activation of c-met, and had nearly undetectable basal c-met activity, as revealed by a phospho-specific c-met antibody. In addition, we showed that there is a strong membrane specific localization of phospho-Stat3 in the wild type (WT) and vector transfected control (NEO4) SRB12-p9 cells, which is lost in the S3DN cells. Finally, co-immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that S3DN interfered with Stat3/c-met interaction.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These studies are the first confirm that interference with the HGF/c-met/Stat3 signaling pathway can block tumor cell invasion in an <it>in vivo </it>model. We also provide novel evidence for a possible positive feedback loop whereby Stat3 can activate c-met, and we correlate membrane localization of phospho-Stat3 with invasion <it>in vivo</it>.</p

Nonmagnetic Insulating States near the Mott Transitions on Lattices with Geometrical Frustration and Implications for κ\kappa-(ET)2_2Cu2(CN)3_2(CN)_3

We study phase diagrams of the Hubbard model on anisotropic triangular lattices, which also represents a model for $\kappa$-type BEDT-TTF compounds. In contrast with mean-field predictions, path-integral renormalization group calculations show a universal presence of nonmagnetic insulator sandwitched by antiferromagnetic insulator and paramagnetic metals. The nonmagnetic phase does not show a simple translational symmetry breakings such as flux phases, implying a genuine Mott insulator. We discuss possible relevance on the nonmagnetic insulating phase found in $\kappa$-(ET)$_2$Cu$_2(CN)_3$.Comment: 4pages including 7 figure

κ−(BEDT−TTF)2X\kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2X organic crystals: superconducting versus antiferromagnetic instabilities in an anisotropic triangular lattice Hubbard model

A Hubbard model at half-filling on an anisotropic triangular lattice has been proposed as the minimal model to describe conducting layers of $\kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2X$ organic materials. The model interpolates between the square lattice and decoupled chains. The $\kappa-(BEDT-TTF)_2X$ materials present many similarities with cuprates, such as the presence of unconventional metallic properties and the close proximity of superconducting and antiferromagnetic phases. As in the cuprates, spin fluctuations are expected to play a crucial role in the onset of superconductivity. We perform a weak-coupling renormalization-group analysis to show that a superconducting instability occurs. Frustration in the antiferromagnetic couplings, which arises from the underlying geometrical arrangement of the lattice, breaks the perfect nesting of the square lattice at half-filling. The spin-wave instability is suppressed and a superconducting instability predominates. For the isotropic triangular lattice, there are again signs of long-range magnetic order, in agreement with studies at strong-coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figs, to appear in Can. J. Phys. (proceedings of the Highly Frustrated Magnetism (HFM-2000) conference, Waterloo, Canada, June 2000