Random and aperiodic quantum spin chains: A comparative study

According to the Harris-Luck criterion the relevance of a fluctuating interaction at the critical point is connected to the value of the fluctuation exponent omega. Here we consider different types of relevant fluctuations in the quantum Ising chain and investigate the universality class of the models. At the critical point the random and aperiodic systems behave similarly, due to the same type of extreme broad distribution of the energy scales at low energies. The critical exponents of some averaged quantities are found to be a universal function of omega, but some others do depend on other parameters of the distribution of the couplings. In the off-critical region there is an important difference between the two systems: there are no Griffiths singularities in aperiodic models.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 2 eps-figures include

Recent Progress in Spin Glasses

We review recent findings on spin glass models. Both the equilibrium properties and the dynamic properties are covered. We focus on progress in theoretical, in particular numerical, studies, while its relationship to real magnetic materials is also mentioned.Comment: Chapter 6 in ``Frustrated Spin Systems'' edited by H.T.Die

Application of a continous time cluster algorithm to the Two-dimensional Random Quantum Ising Ferromagnet

A cluster algorithm formulated in continuous (imaginary) time is presented for Ising models in a transverse field. It works directly with an infinite number of time-slices in the imaginary time direction, avoiding the necessity to take this limit explicitly. The algorithm is tested at the zero-temperature critical point of the pure two-dimensional (2d) transverse Ising model. Then it is applied to the 2d Ising ferromagnet with random bonds and transverse fields, for which the phase diagram is determined. Finite size scaling at the quantum critical point as well as the study of the quantum Griffiths-McCoy phase indicate that the dynamical critical exponent is infinite as in 1d.Comment: 4 pages RevTeX, 3 eps-figures include

The One-Dimensional ANNNI model in a Transverse Field: Analytic and numerical study of Effective Hamiltonians

We consider a spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ chain with competing nearest and next-nearest neighbor interactions within a transverse magnetic field, which is known to be an equiavelent to the ANNNI model. When studing thermodynamics of the 2D ANNNI model Villain and Bak arrived to a free fermion approximation that neglects heavy excitations from the ferromagnetic ground state, which is an appropriate description close to the paramagnetic-ferromagnetic transition. In the vicinity of the floating-phase/anti-phase transition another sort of quasiparticles, but free fermions too, appears to be convenient. Although free fermions are a suitable tool for investigation of the phase diagram and the critical properties, they are defined on the fictitious lattice which makes the analysis non-rigorous. Here we deal with a proper fermion scheme which is especially effective %devised to describe the floating-phase/anti-phase transition. for performing exact diagonalization calculations for cyclic chains. Systems up to size $L=32$ has been analysed and the predictions of the effective fermion Hamiltonian has been confirmed. Various predictions for the infinite system and the critical properties are derived.Comment: 30 RevTeX pages, 10 postscript figure