Single Mode Approximation for sub-Ohmic Spin-Boson Model: Adiabatic Limit and Critical Properties
In this work, the quantum phase transition in the sub-Ohmic spin-boson model is studied using a single-mode approximation, by combining the rotating wave transformation and the transformations used in the numerical renormalization group (NRG). Analytical results for the critical coupling strength $α_c$, the magnetic susceptibility $χ(T)$, and the spin-spin correlation function $C(ω)$ at finite temperatures are obtained and further confirmed by numerical results. We obtain the same $α_c$ as the mean-field approximation. The critical exponents are classical: $β=1/2$, $δ=3$, $γ=1$, $x=1/2$, $y_t^{*}=1/2$, in agreement with the spin-boson model in $0<s<1/2$ regime. $C(ω)$ has nontrivial behavior reflecting coherent oscillation with temperature dependent damping effects due to the environment. We point out the original NRG has problem with the crossover temperature $T^{*}$, and propose a chain Hamiltonian possibly suitable for implementing NRG without boson state truncation error.