arXiv subjects

Roger G. Melko

Publications and source records attributed to Roger G. Melko.

123 records · Page 7Linked to original sources

arXiv2010

A Superglass Phase of Interacting Bosons

We introduce a Bose-Hubbard Hamiltonian with random disordered interactions as a model to study the interplay of superfluidity and glassiness in a system of three-dimensional hard-core bosons at half-filling. Solving the model using large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations, we show that these disordered interactions promote a stable superglass phase, where superflow and glassy density localization coexist in equilibrium without exhibiting phase separation. The robustness of the superglass phase is underlined by its existence in a replica mean-field calculation on the infinite-dimensional Hamiltonian.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2010

Measuring Renyi Entanglement Entropy with Quantum Monte Carlo

We develop a quantum Monte Carlo procedure, in the valence bond basis, to measure the Renyi entanglement entropy of a many-body ground state as the expectation value of a unitary {\it Swap} operator acting on two copies of the system. An improved estimator involving the ratio of {\it Swap} operators for different subregions enables simulations to converge the entropy in a time polynomial in the system size. We demonstrate convergence of the Renyi entropy to exact results for a Heisenberg chain. Finally, we calculate the scaling of the Renyi entropy in the two-dimensional Heisenberg model and confirm that the Néel groundstate obeys the expected area law for systems up to linear size L=28.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Valence Bond and von Neumann Entanglement Entropy in Heisenberg Ladders

We present a direct comparison of the recently-proposed valence bond entanglement entropy and the von Neumann entanglement entropy on spin 1/2 Heisenberg systems using quantum Monte Carlo and density-matrix renormalization group simulations. For one-dimensional chains we show that the valence bond entropy can be either less or greater than the von Neumann entropy, hence it cannot provide a bound on the latter. On ladder geometries, simulations with up to seven legs are sufficient to indicate that the von Neumann entropy in two dimensions obeys an area law, even though the valence bond entanglement entropy has a multiplicative logarithmic correction.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2009

Monte Carlo study of degenerate groundstates and residual entropy in a frustrated honeycomb lattice Ising model

We study a classical fully-frustrated honeycomb lattice Ising model using Markov chain Monte Carlo methods and exact calculations . The Hamiltonian realizes a degenerate ground state manifold of equal-energy states, where each hexagonal plaquette of the lattice has one and only one frustrated bond, with an extensive residual entropy that grows as the number of spins N. Traditional single-spin flip Monte Carlo methods fail to sample all possible spin configurations in this ground state efficiently, due to their separation by large energy barriers. We develop a non-local "chain-flip" algorithm that solves this problem, and demonstrate its effectiveness on the Ising Hamiltonian with and without perturbative interactions. The two perturbations considered are a slightly weakened bond, and an external magnetic field h. For some cases, the chain-flip move is necessary for the simulation to find an ordered ground state. In the case of the magnetic field, two magnetized ground states with non-extensive entropy are found, and two special values of h exist where the residual entropy again becomes extensive, scaling proportional to N ln phi, where phi is the golden ratio.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2008

Superfluid and supersolid phases of lattice bosons with ring-exchange interaction

We examine the superfluid phase of a hard-core boson model with nearest-neighbor exchange J and four-particle ring-exchange K at half-filling on the square lattice. At zero temperature we find that the superfluid in the pure-J model is quickly destroyed by the inclusion of negative-K ring-exchange interactions, favoring a state with a (pi,pi) ordering wavevector. Minimization of the mean-field energy suggests that a supersolid state with coexisting superfluidity, charge-density wave, and valence-bond-like order is formed. We also study the behavior of the finite-T Kosterlitz-Thouless phase transition in the superfluid phase, by forcing the Nelson-Kosterlitz universal jump condition on the finite-T spin wave superfluid density. Away from the pure J point, T_{KT} decreases rapidly for negative K, while for positive K, T_{KT} reaches a maximum at some K \neq 0 in agreement with recent quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Imaging bond order near non-magnetic impurities in square lattice antiferromagnets

We study the textures of generalized "charge densities" (scalar objects invariant under time reversal), in the vicinity of non-magnetic impurities in square-lattice quantum anti-ferromagnets, by order parameter field theories. Our central finding is the structure of the "vortex" in the generalized density wave order parameter centered at the non-magnetic impurity. Using exact numerical data from quantum Monte Carlo simulations on an antiferromagnetic spin model, we are able to verify the results of our field theoretic study. We extend our phenomenological approach to the period-4 bond-centered density wave found in the underdoped cuprates.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2008

Scaling in the Fan of an Unconventional Quantum Critical Point

We present results of extensive finite-temperature Quantum Monte Carlo simulations on a SU(2) symmetric S=1/2 quantum antiferromagnet with a four-spin interaction [Sandvik, Phys. Rev. Lett. 98, 227202 (2007)]. Our simulations, which are free of the sign-problem and carried out on lattices containing in excess of 1.6 X 10^4 spins, indicate that the four-spin interaction destroys the Néel order at an unconventional z=1 quantum critical point, producing a valence-bond solid paramagnet. Our results are consistent with the `deconfined quantum criticality' scenario.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

A short-loop algorithm for quantum Monte Carlo simulations

We present an algorithmic framework for a variant of the quantum Monte Carlo operator-loop algorithm, where non-local cluster updates are constructed in a way that makes each individual loop smaller. The algorithm is designed to increase simulation efficiency in cases where conventional loops become very large, do not close altogether, or otherwise behave poorly. We demonstrate and characterize some aspects of the short-loop on a square lattice spin-1/2 XXZ model where, remarkably, a significant increase in simulation efficiency is observed in some parameter regimes. The simplicity of the model provides a prototype for the use of short-loops on more complicated quantum systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2007

Supersolidity from defect-condensation in the extended boson Hubbard model

We study the ground state phase diagram of the hard-core extended boson Hubbard model on the square lattice with both nearest- (nn) and next-nearest-neighbor (nnn) hopping and repulsion, using Gutzwiller mean field theory and quantum Monte Carlo simulations. We observe the formation of supersolid states with checkerboard, striped, and quarter-filled crystal structures, when the system is doped away from commensurate fillings. In the striped supersolid phase, a strong anisotropy in the superfluid density is obtained from the simulations; however, the transverse component remains finite, indicating a true two-dimensional superflow. We find that upon doping, the striped supersolid transitions directly into the supersolid with quarter-filled crystal structure, via a first-order stripe melting transition.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2007

A single layer of Mn in a GaAs quantum well: a ferromagnet with quantum fluctuations

Some of the highest transition temperatures achieved for Mn-doped GaAs have been in delta-doped heterostructures with well-separated planes of Mn. But in the absence of magnetic anisotropy, the Mermin-Wagner theorem implies that a single plane of magnetic ions cannot be ferromagnetic. Using a Heisenberg model, we show that the same mechanism that produces magnetic frustration and suppresses the transition temperature in bulk Mn-doped GaAs, due to the difference between the light and heavy band masses, can stabilize ferromagnetic order for a single layer of Mn in a GaAs quantum well. This comes at the price of quantum fluctuations that suppress the ordered moment from that of a fully saturated ferromagnet. By comparing the predictions of Heisenberg and Kohn-Luttinger models, we conclude that the Heisenberg description of a Mn-doped GaAs quantum well breaks down when the Mn concentration becomes large, but works quite well in the weak-coupling limit of small Mn concentrations. This comparison allows us to estimate the size of the quantum fluctuations in the quantum well.

cond-mat.mtrl-sci↗

arXiv2006

Simulations of Quantum XXZ Models on Two-Dimensional Frustrated Lattices

We report recent progress in the study of a particular class of spin 1/2 XXZ model on two-dimensional lattices with frustrated diagonal and unfrustrated off-diagonal interactions. Quantum Monte Carlo simulations can be constructed without a sign problem, however they require non-trivial algorithmic advances in order to combat freezing tendencies. We discuss results obtained using these techniques, in particular the discovery of unusual bulk quantum phases, studies of quantum criticality, and the continuing search for exotic physics in these models.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2005

Finite Temperature Transitions in Large Magnetic Field in Dipolar Spin Ice

We use Monte Carlo simulations to identify the mechanism that allows for phase transitions in dipolar spin ice to occur and survive for applied magnetic field, H, much larger in strength than that of the spin-spin interactions. In the most generic and highest symmetry case, the spins on one out of four sublattices of the pyrochlore decouple from the total local exchange+dipolar+applied field. In the special case where H is aligned perfectly along the [110] crystallographic direction, spin chains perpendicular to H show a transition to q=X long range order, which proceeds via a one to three dimensional crossover. We propose that these transitions are relevant to the origin of specific heat features observed in powder samples of the Dy2Ti2O7 spin ice material for H above 1 Tesla.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2004

Stochastic series expansion algorithm for the S=1/2 XY model with four-site ring exchange

We describe a stochastic series expansion (SSE) quantum Monte Carlo method for a two-dimensional S=1/2 XY-model (or, equivalently, hard-core bosons at half-filling) which in addition to the standard pair interaction J includes a four-particle term K that flips spins on a square plaquette. The model has three ordered ground state phases; for K/J<8 it has long-range xy spin order (superfluid bosons), for K/J>15 it has staggered spin order in the z direction (charge-density-wave), and between these phases it is in a state with columnar order in the bond and plaquette energy densities. We discuss an implementation of directed-loop updates for the SSE simulations of this model and also introduce a "multi-branch" cluster update which significantly reduces the autocorrelation times for large K/J. In addition to the pure J-K model, which in the z basis has only off-diagonal terms, we also discuss modifications of the algorithm needed when various diagonal interactions are included.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2003

Thermodynamic Properties of the Dipolar Spin Ice Model

We present a detailed theoretical overview of the thermodynamic properties of the dipolar spin ice model, which has been shown to be an excellent quantitative descriptor of the Ising pyrochlore materials Dy_2Ti_2O_7 and Ho_2Ti_2O_7. We show that the dipolar spin ice model can reproduce an effective quasi macroscopically degenerate ground state and spin-ice behavior of these materials when the long-range nature of dipole-dipole interaction is handled carefully using Ewald summation techniques. This degeneracy is, however, ultimately lifted at low temperature. The long-range ordered state is identified via mean field theory and Monte Carlo simulation techniques. Finally, we investigate the behavior of the dipolar spin ice model in an applied magnetic field, and compare our predictions with experimental results. We find that a number of different long-range ordered states are favored by the model depending on field direction.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗

arXiv2001

Long Range Order at Low Temperature in Dipolar Spin Ice

Recently it has been suggested that long range magnetic dipolar interactions are responsible for spin ice behavior in the Ising pyrochlore magnets ${\rm Dy_{2}Ti_{2}O_{7}}$ and ${\rm Ho_{2}Ti_{2}O_{7}}$. We report here numerical results on the low temperature properties of the dipolar spin ice model, obtained via a new loop algorithm which greatly improves the dynamics at low temperature. We recover the previously reported missing entropy in this model, and find a first order transition to a long range ordered phase with zero total magnetization at very low temperature. We discuss the relevance of these results to ${\rm Dy_{2}Ti_{2}O_{7}}$ and ${\rm Ho_{2}Ti_{2}O_{7}}$.

cond-mat.dis-nn↗