Magnetic phase diagram of a quasi-one-dimensional quantum spin system

We propose an analytical ansatz, using which the ordering temperature of a quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) antiferromagnetic (AF) system (weakly coupled quantum spin-1/2 chains) in the presence of the external magnetic field is calculated. The field dependence of the critical exponents for correlation functions of 1D subsystems plays a very important role. It determines the region of possible re-entrant phase transition, governed by the field. It is shown how the quantum critical point between two phases of the 1D subsystem, caused by spin-frustrating next-nearest neighbor (NNN) and multi-spin ring-like exchanges, affects the field dependence of the ordering temperature. Our results qualitatively agree with the features, observed in experiments on quasi-1D AF systems

Quantum phase transitions in a new exactly solvable quantum spin biaxial model with multiple spin interactions

The new integrable quantum spin model is proposed. The model has a biaxial magnetic anisotropy of alternating coupling between spins together with multiple spin interactions. Our model gives the possibility to exactly find thermodynamic characteristics of the considered spin chain. The ground state of the model can reveal spontaneous values of the total magnetic and antiferromagnetic moments, caused by multiple spin couplings. Also, in the ground state, depending on the strength of multiple spin couplings, our model manifests several quantum critical points, some of which are governed by the external magnetic field

Possibility of direct observation of edge Majorana modes in quantum chains

Several scenarios for realization of edge Majorana modes in quantum chain systems: spin chains, chains of Josephson junctions, and chains of coupled cavities in quantum optics, are considered. For all these systems excitations can be presented as superpositions of a spinless fermion and a hole, characteristic for Majorana fermion. We discuss the features of our exact solution with respect to possible experiments, in which edge Majorana fermions can be directly observed when studying magnetic, superconducting, and optical characteristics of such systems.Comment: 8 pages (including supplemental information), 7 figure

Spin Dynamics in S=1/2S=1/2 Chains with Next-Nearest-Neighbor Exchange Interactions

Low-energy magnetic excitations in the spin-1/2 chain compound (C$_6$H$_9$N$_2$)CuCl$_3$ [known as (6MAP)CuCl$_3$] are probed by means of tunable-frequency electron spin resonance. Two modes with asymmetric (with respect to the $h\nu=g\mu_B B$ line) frequency-field dependences are resolved, illuminating the striking incompatibility with a simple uniform $S=\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg chain model. The unusual ESR spectrum is explained in terms of the recently developed theory for spin-1/2 chains, suggesting the important role of next-nearest-neighbor interactions in this compound. Our conclusion is supported by model calculations for the magnetic susceptibility of (6MAP)CuCl$_3$, revealing a good qualitative agreement with experiment

New physics in frustrated magnets: Spin ices, monopoles, etc

During recent years the interest to frustrated magnets has grown considerably. Such systems reveal very peculiar properties which distinguish them from standard paramagnets, magnetically ordered regular systems (like ferro-, ferri-, and antiferromagnets), or spin glasses. In particular great amount of attention has been devoted to the so-called spin ices, in which magnetic frustration together with the large value of the single-ion magnetic anisotropy of a special kind, yield peculiar behavior. One of the most exciting features of spin ices is related to low-energy emergent excitations, which, from many viewpoints can be considered as analogies of Dirac's monopoles. In this article we review the main achievements of theory and experiment in this field of physics.Comment: review article, 70 pages, 27 figures, accepted for publication in "Low Temperature Physics" ("Fizika Nizkikh Temperatur"

Magnetic ordering of weakly coupled frustrated quantum spin chains

The ordering temperature of a quasi-one-dimensional system, consisting of weakly interacting quantum spin-1/2 chains with antiferromagnetic spin-frustrating couplings (or zig-zag ladder) is calculated. The results show that a quantum critical point between two phases of the one-dimensional subsystem plays a crucial role. If the one-dimensional subsystem is in the antiferromagnetic-like phase in the ground state, similar to the phase of a spin chain without frustration, weak couplings yield magnetic ordering of the Neel type. For intra-chain spin-frustrating interactions larger than the critical one (at which the quantum phase transition takes place), the quasi-one-dimensional spin system manifests a spiral magnetic incommensurate ordering. The obtained results of our quantum theory are compared with the quasi-classical approximations. The calculated features of magnetic ordering are expected to be generic for weakly coupled quantum spin chains with gapless excitations and spin-frustrating nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions.Comment: 6 pages, 2 figure

Spin-orbit and impurity scattering in an integrable electron model: Exact results for dynamic correlations

We introduce an integrable model of spin-polarized interacting electrons subject to a spin-conserving spin-orbit interaction. Using Bethe Ansatz and conformal field theory we calculate the exact large-time single-electron and density correlations and find that while the spin-orbit interaction enhances the single-electron Green's function, the density correlations get suppressed. Adding a localized impurity and coupling it to the electrons so that integrability is preserved, the dynamic correlations are found to change significantly after a quantum quench with the impurity interaction switched on suddenly. When the electrons are confined to a periodic structure, the correlations are indifferent to the location of the impurity and only carry an imprint of its intrinsic properties. We conjecture that this unusual feature originates from the integrability of the model.Comment: 8 pages, 1 figur