arXiv subjects

Frederic Mila

Publications and source records attributed to Frederic Mila.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2005

Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya-Induced Order in the Spin-Liquid Phase of the S=1/2 Pyrochlore Antiferromagnet

We show that the S=1/2 pyrochlore lattice with both Heisenberg and antisymmetric, Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya (DM) interactions, can order antiferromagnetically into a state with chiral symmetry, dictated by the distribution of the DM interactions. The chiral antiferromagnetic state is characterized by a small staggered magnetic moment induced by the DM interaction. An external magnetic field can also lead to characteristic field-induced ordering patterns, strongly dependent on the field direction, and generally separated by a quantum phase transition from the chiral ordered phase. The phase diagram at finite temperature is also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Absence of single particle Bose-Einstein condensation at low densities for bosons with correlated-hopping

Motivated by the physics of mobile triplets in frustrated quantum magnets, the properties of a two dimensional model of bosons with correlated-hopping are investigated. A mean-field analysis reveals the presence of a pairing phase without single particle Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) at low densities for sufficiently strong correlated-hopping, and of an Ising quantum phase transition towards a BEC phase at larger density. The physical arguments supporting the mean-field results and their implications for bosonic and quantum spin systems are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Interacting classical dimers on the square lattice

We study a model of close-packed dimers on the square lattice with a nearest neighbor interaction between parallel dimers. This model corresponds to the classical limit of quantum dimer models [D.S. Rokhsar and S.A. Kivelson, Phys. Rev. Lett.{\bf 61}, 2376 (1988)]. By means of Monte Carlo and Transfer Matrix calculations, we show that this system undergoes a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition separating a low temperature ordered phase where dimers are aligned in columns from a high temperature critical phase with continuously varying exponents. This is understood by constructing the corresponding Coulomb gas, whose coupling constant is computed numerically. We also discuss doped models and implications on the finite-temperature phase diagram of quantum dimer models.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2005

Quantum dimer model with Z_2 liquid ground-state: interpolation between cylinder and disk topologies and toy model for a topological quantum-bit

We consider a quantum dimer model (QDM) on the kagome lattice which was introduced recently [Phys. Rev. Lett. 89, 137202 (2002)]. It realizes a Z_2 liquid phase and its spectrum was obtained exactly. It displays a topological degeneracy when the lattice has a non-trivial geometry (cylinder, torus, etc). We discuss and solve two extensions of the model where perturbations along lines are introduced: first the introduction of a potential energy term repelling (or attracting) the dimers along a line is added, second a perturbation allowing to create, move or destroy monomers. For each of these perturbations we show that there exists a critical value above which, in the thermodynamic limit, the degeneracy of the ground-state is lifted from 2 (on a cylinder) to 1. In both cases the exact value of the gap between the first two levels is obtained by a mapping to an Ising chain in transverse field. This model provides an example of solvable Hamiltonian for a topological quantum bit where the two perturbations act as a diagonal and a transverse operator in the two-dimensional subspace. We discuss how crossing the transitions may be used in the manipulation of the quantum bit to optimize simultaneously the frequency of operation and the losses due to decoherence.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Finite-temperature properties of frustrated classical spins coupled to the lattice

We present extensive Monte Carlo simulations for a classical antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with both nearest ($J_1$) and next-nearest ($J_2$) exchange couplings on the square lattice coupled to the lattice degrees of freedom. The Ising-like phase transition, that appears for $J_2/J_1>1/2$ in the pure spin model, is strengthened by the spin-lattice coupling, and is accompanied by a lattice deformation from a tetragonal symmetry to an orthorhombic one. Evidences that the universality class of the transition does not change with the inclusion of the spin-lattice coupling are reported. Implications for ${\rm Li_2VOSiO_4}$, the prototype for a layered $J_1{-}J_2$ model in the collinear regime, are also discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2005

Zero-Temperature Properties of the Quantum Dimer Model on the Triangular Lattice

Using exact diagonalizations and Green's function Monte Carlo simulations, we have studied the zero-temperature properties of the quantum dimer model on the triangular lattice on clusters with up to 588 sites. A detailed comparison of the properties in different topological sectors as a function of the cluster size and for different cluster shapes has allowed us to identify different phases, to show explicitly the presence of topological degeneracy in a phase close to the Rokhsar-Kivelson point, and to understand finite-size effects inside this phase. The nature of the various phases has been further investigated by calculating dimer-dimer correlation functions. The present results confirm and complement the phase diagram proposed by Moessner and Sondhi on the basis of finite-temperature simulations [Phys. Rev. Lett. {\bf 86}, 1881 (2001)].

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Weak antiferromagnetism and dimer order in quantum systems of coupled tetrahedra

We analyze the phases of an S=1/2 spin model on a lattice of coupled tetrahedra. The presence of both Heisenberg and antisymmetric, Dzyaloshinsky-Moriya interactions can lead to two types of symmetry-broken states: non-magnetic dimer order and, unexpectedly, exotic 4 sub-lattice weak antiferromagnetic order - a state with a generically small ordered moment and non-zero chirality. External magnetic field also induces weak antiferromagnetism co-existing with strong dimer correlations in the ground state. These states are formed as a result of broken Ising symmetries and exhibit a number of unusual properties.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2004

Soliton binding and low-lying singlets in frustrated odd-legged S=1/2 spin tubes

Motivated by the intriguing properties of the vanadium spin tube Na2V3O7, we show that an effective spin-chirality model similar to that of standard Heisenberg odd-legged S=1/2 spin tubes can be derived for frustrated inter-ring couplings, but with a spin-chirality coupling constant alpha that can be arbitrarily small. Using density matrix renormalization group and analytical arguments, we show that, while spontaneous dimerization is always present, solitons become bound into low-lying singlets as alpha is reduced. Experimental implications for strongly frustrated tubes are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2003

Theory of spin density profile in the magnetization plateaus of SrCu_2(BO_3)_2

The two-dimensional spin-gap system ${\rm SrCu_2(BO_3)_2}$ shows unique physical properties due to the low-dimensionality character and the strong quantum fluctuations. Experimentally, 1/8-, 1/4-, and 1/3-plateaus have been observed in the magnetization curve under magnetic fields up to 70 Tesla, and the 1/2-plateau is expected to be stabilized at higher magnetic fields. We argue that spin-lattice effects are necessary to describe the superstructures at the plateaus, and we propose a simple microscopic model of spins interacting adiabatically with the lattice to reproduce the main features of the recent experimental results by nuclear magnetic resonance.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Quantum Phase Transition in the SU(4) Spin-Orbital Model on the Triangular Lattice

Motivated by the absence of cooperative Jahn-Teller effect in LiNiO2 and BaVS3, two layered oxides with triangular planes, we study the SU(4) symmetric spin-orbital model on the triangular lattice. Upon reducing the next-nearest neighbour coupling, we show that the system undergoes a quantum phase transition to a liquid phase. A variational approach to this liquid phase shows that simple types of long-range correlations are suppressed, suggesting that it is stable against lattice distortions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Tetramerisation of a frustrated spin-1/2 chain

We investigate a model of a frustrated spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain coupled to adiabatic phonons with a general form of magnetoelastic coupling. For large enough frustration and lattice coupling a new tetramerised phase with three different bond lengths is found. We argue that the zig-zag spin-1/2 chain LiV$_2$O$_5$ might be a good candidate to observe such a phase.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Peierls-like transition induced by frustration in a two-dimensional antiferromagnet

We show that the introduction of frustration into the spin-1/2 two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model on a square lattice via a next-nearest neighbor exchange interaction can lead to a Peierls-like transition, from a tetragonal to an orthorhombic phase, when the spins are coupled to adiabatic phonons. The two different orthorhombic ground states define an Ising order parameter, which is expected to lead to a finite temperature transition. Implications for ${\rm Li_2VOSiO_4}$, the first realization of that model, will be discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2002

Dynamic spin-glass behavior in a disorder-free, two-component model of quantum frustrated magnets

Motivated by the observation of a spin-glass transition in almost disorder-free Kagome antiferromagnets, and by the specific form of the effective low-energy model of the S=1/2, trimerized Kagome antiferromagnet, we investigate the possibility to obtain a spin-glass behavior in two-component, disorder-free models. We concentrate on a toy-model, a modified Ashkin-Teller model in a magnetic field that couples only to one species of spins, for which we prove that a dynamic spin-glass behavior occurs. The dynamics of the magnetization is closely related to that of the underlying Ising model in zero field in which spins and pseudo-spins are intimately coupled. The spin-glass like history dependence of the magnetization is a consequence of the ageing of the underlying Ising model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2000

Plaquette Ground State in the Two-dimensional SU(4) Spin-Orbital Model

In order to understand the properties of Mott insulators with strong ground state orbital fluctuations, we study the zero temperature properties of the SU(4) spin-orbital model on a square lattice. Exact diagonalizations of finite clusters suggest that the ground state is disordered with a singlet-multiplet gap and possibly low-lying SU(4) singlets in the gap. An interpretation in terms of plaquette SU(4) singlets is proposed. The implications for LiNiO_2 are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2000

On the origin of biquadratic exchange in spin 1 chains

One dimensional spin 1 systems may have a rich phase diagram including Haldane gap and dimerized phases if the usually very small biquadratic exchange becomes significant. We show that this unlikely condition may be fulfilled in electron systems with quasi-degenerate orbitals. This mechanism may have been experimentally realized in the spin 1 chain LiVGe$_2$O$_6$. The implications for the exploration of the physics and quantum chemistry of spin 1 chains are discussed.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1998

Thermodynamics of the one-dimensional SU(4) symmetric spin-orbital model

The ground state properties and the thermodynamics of the one-dimensional SU(4) symmetric spin system with orbital degeneracy are investigated using the quantum Monte Carlo loop algorithm. The spin-spin correlation functions exhibit a 4-site periodicity, and their low temperature behavior is controlled by two correlation lengths that diverge like the inverse temperature, while the entropy is linear in temperature and its slope is consistent with three gapless modes of velocity $π/2$. The physical implications of these results are discussed.

cond-mat↗

arXiv1998

Low-energy sector of the S=1/2 Kagome antiferromagnet

Starting from a modified version of the the S=1/2 Kagome antiferromagnet to emphasize the role of elementary triangles, an effective Hamiltonian involving spin and chirality variables is derived. A mean-field decoupling that retains the quantum nature of these variables is shown to yield a Hamiltonian that can be solved exactly, leading to the following predictions: i) The number of low lying singlet states increase with the number of sites N like 1.15 to the power N; ii) A singlet-triplet gap remains in the thermodynamic limit; iii) Spinons form boundstates with a small binding energy. By comparing these properties with those of the regular Kagome lattice as revealed by numerical experiments, we argue that this description captures the essential low energy physics of that model.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv1998

Ladders in a magnetic field: a strong coupling approach

We show that non-frustrated and frustrated ladders in a magnetic field can be systematically mapped onto an XXZ Heisenberg model in a longitudinal magnetic field in the limit where the rung coupling is the dominant one. This mapping is valid in the critical region where the magnetization goes from zero to saturation. It allows one to relate the properties of the critical phase ($H_c^1$, $H_c^2$, the critical exponents) to the exchange integrals and provide quantitative estimates of the frustration needed to create a plateau at half the saturation value for different models of frustration.

cond-mat.str-el↗