arXiv subjects

Wenan Guo

Publications and source records attributed to Wenan Guo.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

arXiv2019

The three-state Potts model on the centered triangular lattice

We study phase transitions of the Potts model on the centered-triangular lattice with two types of couplings, namely $K$ between neighboring triangular sites, and $J$ between the centered and the triangular sites. Results are obtained by means of a finite-size analysis based on numerical transfer matrix calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. Our investigation covers the whole $(K, J)$ phase diagram, but we find that most of the interesting physics applies to the antiferromagnetic case $K<0$, where the model is geometrically frustrated. In particular, we find that there are, for all finite $J$, two transitions when K is varied. Their critical properties are explored. In the limits $J\to \pm \infty$ we find algebraic phases with infinite-order transitions to the ferromagnetic phase.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2019

Two-photon Rabi-Hubbard and Jaynes-Cummings-Hubbard models: photon pair superradiance, Mott insulator and normal phases

We study the ground state phase diagrams of two-photon Dicke, the one-dimensional Jaynes-Cummings-Hubbard (JCH), and Rabi-Hubbard (RH) models using mean field, perturbation, quantum Monte Carlo (QMC), and density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) methods. We first compare mean field predictions for the phase diagram of the Dicke model with exact QMC results and find excellent agreement. The phase diagram of the JCH model is then shown to exhibit a single Mott insulator lobe with two excitons per site, a superfluid (SF, superradiant) phase and a large region of instability where the Hamiltonian becomes unbounded. Unlike the one-photon model, there are no higher Mott lobes. Also unlike the one-photon case, the SF phases above and below the Mott are surprisingly different: Below the Mott, the SF is that of photon {\it pairs} as opposed to above the Mott where it is SF of simple photons. The mean field phase diagram of the RH model predicts a transition from a normal to a superradiant phase but none is found with QMC.

cond-mat.other↗

arXiv2018

Superconductivity from the Condensation of Topological Defects in a Quantum Spin-Hall Insulator

The discovery that spin-orbit coupling can generate a new state of matter in the form of quantum spin-Hall (QSH) insulators has brought topology to the forefront of condensed matter physics. While QSH states from spin-orbit coupling can be fully understood in terms of band theory, fascinating many-body effects are expected if the state instead results from interaction-generated symmetry breaking. In particular, topological defects of the corresponding order parameter provide a route to exotic quantum phase transitions. Here, we introduce a model in which the condensation of skyrmion defects in an interaction-generated QSH insulator produces a superconducting (SC) phase. Because vortex excitations of the latter carry a spin-$1/2$ degree of freedom numbers, the SC order may be understood as emerging from a gapless spin liquid normal state. The QSH-SC transition is an example of a deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP), for which we provide an improved model with only a single length scale that is accessible to large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Random-Singlet Phase in Disordered Two-Dimensional Quantum Magnets

We study effects of disorder (randomness) in a 2D square-lattice $S=1/2$ quantum spin system, the $J$-$Q$ model with a 6-spin interaction $Q$ supplementing the Heisenberg exchange $J$. In the absence of disorder the system hosts antiferromagnetic (AFM) and columnar valence-bond-solid (VBS) ground states. The VBS breaks $Z_4$ symmetry, and in the presence of arbitrarily weak disorder it forms domains. Using QMC simulations, we demonstrate two kinds of such disordered VBS states. Upon dilution, a removed site leaves a localized spin in the opposite sublattice. These spins form AFM order. For random interactions, we find a different state, with no order but algebraically decaying mean correlations. We identify localized spinons at the nexus of domain walls between different VBS patterns. These spinons form correlated groups with the same number of spinons and antispinons. Within such a group, there is a strong tendency to singlet formation, because of spinon-spinon interactions mediated by the domain walls. Thus, no long-range AFM order forms. We propose that this state is a 2D analog of the well-known 1D random singlet (RS) state, though the dynamic exponent $z$ in 2D is finite. By studying the T-dependent magnetic susceptibility, we find that $z$ varies, from $z=2$ at the AFM--RS phase boundary and larger in the RS phase The RS state discovered here in a system without geometric frustration should correspond to the same fixed point as the RS state recently proposed for frustrated systems, and the ability to study it without Monte Carlo sign problems opens up opportunities for further detailed characterization of its static and dynamic properties. We also discuss experimental evidence of the RS phase in the quasi-two-dimensional square-lattice random-exchange quantum magnets Sr$_2$CuTe$_{1-x}$W$_x$O$_6$.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Anomalous quantum-critical scaling corrections in two-dimensional antiferromagnets

We study the Néel-paramagnetic quantum phase transition in two-dimensional dimerized $S=1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnets using finite-size scaling of quantum Monte Carlo data. We resolve the long standing issue of the role of cubic interactions arising in the bond-operator representation when the dimer pattern lacks a certain symmetry. We find non-monotonic (monotonic) size dependence in the staggered (columnar) dimerized model, where cubic interactions are (are not) present. We conclude that there is an irrelevant field in the staggered model that is not present in the columnar case, but, at variance with previous claims, it is not the leading irrelevant field. The new exponent is $ω_2 \approx 1.25$ and the prefactor of the correction $L^{-ω_2}$ is large and comes with a different sign from that of the formally leading conventional correction with exponent $ω_1 \approx 0.78$. Our study highlights the possibility of competing scaling corrections at quantum critical points.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Engineering Surface Critical Behavior of (2+1)-Dimensional O(3) Quantum Critical Points

Surface critical behavior (SCB) refers to the singularities of physical quantities on the surface at the bulk phase transition. It is closely related to and even richer than the bulk critical behavior. In this work, we show that three types of SCB universality are realized in the dimerized Heisenberg models at the (2+1)-dimensional O(3) quantum critical points by engineering the surface configurations. The ordinary transition happens if the surface is gapped in the bulk disordered phase, while the gapless surface state generally leads to the multicritical special transition, even though the latter is precluded in classical phase transitions because the surface is in the lower critical dimension. An extraordinary transition is induced by the ferrimagnetic order on the surface of the staggered Heisenberg model, in which the surface critical exponents violate the results of the scaling theory and thus seriously challenge our current understanding of extraordinary transitions.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2018

Dynamic spin-lattice coupling and nematic fluctuations in NaFeAs

We use inelastic neutron scattering to study acoustic phonons and spin excitations in single crystals of NaFeAs, a parent compound of iron pnictide superconductors. NaFeAs exhibits a tetragonal-to-orthorhombic structural transition at $T_s\approx 58$ K and a collinear antiferromagnetic (AF) order at $T_N\approx 45$ K. While longitudinal and out-of-plane transverse acoustic phonons behave as expected, the in-plane transverse acoustic phonons reveal considerable softening on cooling to $T_s$, and then harden on approaching $T_N$ before saturating below $T_N$. In addition, we find that spin-spin correlation lengths of low-energy magnetic excitations within the FeAs layer and along the $c$-axis increase dramatically below $T_s$, and show weak anomaly across $T_N$. These results suggest that the electronic nematic phase present in the paramagnetic tetragonal phase is closely associated with dynamic spin-lattice coupling, possibly arising from the one-phonon-two-magnon mechanism.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2017

High-pressure magnetization and NMR studies on $α$-RuCl$_3$

We report high-pressure magnetization and $^{35}$Cl NMR studies on $α$-RuCl$_3$ with pressure up to 1.5~GPa. At low pressures, the magnetic ordering is identified by both the magnetization data and the NMR data, where the $T_N$ shows a concave shape dependence with pressure. These data suggest stacking rearrangement along the $c$-axis. With increasing pressure, phase separation appears prominently at $P\ge$~0.45~GPa, and the magnetic volume fraction is completely suppressed at $P\ge$~1.05~GPa. Meanwhile, a phase-transition-like behavior emerges at high pressures in the remaining volume by a sharp drop of magnetization $M(T)$ upon cooling, with the transition temperature $T_x$ increased to ~250~K at 1~GPa. The $1/^{35}T_1$ is reduced by over three orders of magnitude when cooled below 100~K. This characterizes a high-pressure, low-temperature phase with nearly absent static susceptibility and low-energy spin fluctuations. The nature of the high-pressure ground state is discussed, where a magnetically disordered state is proposed as a candidate state.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Equivalent-neighbor Potts models in two dimensions

We investigate the two-dimensional $q=3$ and 4 Potts models with a variable interaction range by means of Monte Carlo simulations. We locate the phase transitions for several interaction ranges as expressed by the number $z$ of equivalent neighbors. For not too large $z$, the transitions fit well in the universality classes of the short-range Potts models. However, at longer ranges the transitions become discontinuous. For $q=3$ we locate a tricritical point separating the continuous and discontinuous transitions near $z=80$, and a critical fixed point between $z=8$ and 12. For $q=4$ the transition becomes discontinuous for $z > 16$. The scaling behavior of the $q=4$ model with $z=16$ approximates that of the $q=4$ merged critical-tricritical fixed point predicted by the renormalization scenario.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2016

Quantum criticality with two length scales

The theory of deconfined quantum critical points describes phase transitions at temperature T = 0 outside the standard paradigm, predicting continuous transformations between certain ordered states where conventional theory requires discontinuities. Numerous computer simulations have offered no proof of such transitions, however, instead finding deviations from expected scaling relations that were neither predicted by the DQC theory nor conform to standard scenarios. Here we show that this enigma can be resolved by introducing a critical scaling form with two divergent length scales. Simulations of a quantum magnet with antiferromagnetic and dimerized ground states confirm the form, proving a continuous transition with deconfined excitations and also explaining anomalous scaling at T > 0. Our findings revise prevailing paradigms for quantum criticality, with potentially far-reaching implications for many strongly-correlated materials.

cond-mat.str-el↗

arXiv2016

Special transitions in an O($n$) loop model with an Ising-like constraint

We investigate the O($n$) nonintersecting loop model on the square lattice under the constraint that the loops consist of ninety-degree bends only. The model is governed by the loop weight $n$, a weight $x$ for each vertex of the lattice visited once by a loop, and a weight $z$ for each vertex visited twice by a loop. We explore the $(x,z)$ phase diagram for some values of $n$. For $0 1$, the O($n$)-like transition line appears to be absent. Thus, for $z=0$, the $(n,x)$ phase diagram displays a line of phase transitions for $n\le 1$. The line ends at $n=1$ in an infinite-order transition. We determine the conformal anomaly and the critical exponents along this line. These results agree accurately with a recent proposal for the universal classification of this type of model, at least in most of the range $-1 \leq n \leq 1$. We also determine the exponent describing crossover to the generic O($n$) universality class, by introducing topological defects associated with the introduction of `straight' vertices violating the ninety-degree-bend rule. These results are obtained by means of transfer-matrix calculations and finite-size scaling.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2015

Anomalous quantum glass of bosons in a random potential in two dimensions

We present a quantum Monte Carlo study of the "quantum glass" phase of the 2D Bose-Hubbard model with random potentials at filling $ρ=1$. In the narrow region between the Mott and superfluid phases the compressibility has the form $κ\sim {\rm exp}(-b/T^α)+c$ with $α<1$ and $c$ vanishing or very small. Thus, at $T=0$ the system is either incompressible (a Mott glass) or nearly incompressible (a Mott-glass-like anomalous Bose glass). At stronger disorder, where a glass reappears from the superfluid, we find a conventional highly compressible Bose glass. On a path connecting these states, away from the superfluid at larger Hubbard repulsion, a change of the disorder strength by only $10\%$ changes the low-temperature compressibility by more than four orders of magnitude, lending support to two types of glass states separated by a phase transition or a sharp cross-over.

cond-mat.quant-gas↗

arXiv2015

Emergent topological excitations in a two-dimensional quantum spin system

We study the mechanism of decay of a topological (winding-number) excitation due to finite-size effects in a two-dimensional valence-bond solid state, realized in an $S=1/2$ spin model ($J$-$Q$ model) and studied using projector Monte Carlo simulations in the valence bond basis. A topological excitation with winding number $|W|>0$ contains domain walls, which are unstable due to the emergence of long valence bonds in the wave function, unlike in effective descriptions with the quantum dimer model. We find that the life time of the winding number in imaginary time diverges as a power of the system length $L$. The energy can be computed within this time (i.e., it converges toward a "quasi-eigenvalue" before the winding number decays) and agrees for large $L$ with the domain-wall energy computed in an open lattice with boundary modifications enforcing a domain wall. Constructing a simplified two-state model and using the imaginary-time behavior from the simulations as input, we find that the real-time decay rate out of the initial winding sector is exponentially small in $L$. Thus, the winding number rapidly becomes a well-defined conserved quantum number for large systems, supporting the conclusions reached by computing the energy quasi-eigenvalues. Including Heisenberg exchange interactions which brings the system to a quantum-critical point separating the valence-bond solid from an antiferromagnetic ground state (the putative "deconfined" quantum-critical point), we can also converge the domain wall energy here and find that it decays as a power-law of the system size. Thus, the winding number is an emergent quantum number also at the critical point, with all winding number sectors becoming degenerate in the thermodynamic limit. This supports the description of the critical point in terms of a U(1) gauge-field theory.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Completely packed O($n$) loop models and their relation with exactly solved coloring models

We explore the physical properties of the completely packed O($n$) loop model on the square lattice, and its generalization to an Eulerian graph model, which follows by including cubic vertices which connect the four incoming loop segments. This model includes crossing bonds as well. Our study of the properties of this model involve transfer-matrix calculations and finite-size scaling. The numerical results are compared to existing exact solutions, including solutions of special cases of a so-called coloring model, which are shown to be equivalent with our generalized loop model. The latter exact solutions correspond with seven one-dimensional branches in the parameter space of our generalized loop model. One of these branches, describing the case of nonintersecting loops, is already known to correspond with the ordering transition of the Potts model. We find that another exactly solved branch, which describes a model with nonintersecting loops and cubic vertices, corresponds with a first-order Ising-like phase transition for $n>2$. For $1 2$ this branch is the locus of a first-order phase boundary between a phase with a hard-square lattice-gas like ordering, and a phase dominated by cubic vertices. The first-order character of this transition is in agreement with a mean-field argument.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Rényi Information flow in the Ising model with single-spin dynamics

The $n$-index Rényi mutual information and transfer entropy for the two-dimensional kinetic Ising model with arbitrary single-spin dynamics in the thermodynamic limit are derived as functions of thermodynamic quantities. By means of Monte Carlo simulations with the Wolff algorithm, we calculate the information flows in the Ising model with the Metropolis dynamics and the Glauber dynamics. We find that, not only the global Rényi transfer entropy, but also the pairwise Rényi transfer entropy peaks in the disorder phase. Therefore, the Rényi information flows may be used as better tools than the Shannon counterparts in the study of phase transitions in complex dynamical systems.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Reentrance of Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless-like transitions in three-state Potts antiferromagnetic thin film

Using Monte Carlo simulations and finite-size scaling, we study three-state Potts antiferromagnet on layered square lattice with two and four layers $L_z=2$ and $4$. As temperature decreases, the system develops quasi-long-range order via a Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless transition at finite temperature $T_{c1}$. For $L_z=4$, as temperature is further lowered, a long-range order breaking the $Z_6$ symmetry develops at a second transition at $T_{c2} < T_{c1}$. The transition at $T_{c2}$ is also Berezinskii-Kosterlitz-Thouless-like, but has magnetic critical exponent $η=1/9$ instead of the conventional value $η= 1/4$. The emergent $U(1)$ symmetry is clearly demonstrated in the quasi-long-range ordered region $T_{c2} \leq T \leq T_{c1}$.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2014

Exact finite-size corrections and corner free energies for the c=-2 universality class

We consider (a) the partition functions of the anisotropic dimer model on the rectangular (2M-1) x (2N-1) lattice with free and cylindrical boundary conditions with a single monomer residing on the boundary and (b) the partition function of the anisotropic spanning tree on an M x N rectangular lattice with free boundary conditions. We express (a) and (b) in terms of a principal partition function with twisted boundary conditions. Based on these expressions, we derive the exact asymptotic expansions of the free energy for both cases (a) and (b). We confirm the conformal field theory prediction for the corner free energy of these models, and find the central charge is c = - 2. We also show that the dimer model on the cylinder with an odd number of sites on the perimeter exhibits the same finite-size corrections as on the plane.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗

arXiv2013

Critical properties of the Hintermann-Merlini model

Many critical properties of the Hintermann-Merlini model are known exactly through the mapping to the eight-vertex model. Wu [J. Phys. C {\bf 8}, 2262 (1975)] calculated the spontaneous magnetizations of the model on two sublattices by relating them to the conjectured spontaneous magnetization and polarization of the eight-vertex model, respectively. The latter conjecture remains unproved. In this paper, we numerically study the critical properties of the model by means of a finite-size scaling analysis based on transfer matrix calculations and Monte Carlo simulations. All analytic predictions for the model are confirmed by our numerical results. The central charge $c=1$ is found for the critical manifold investigated. In addition, some unpredicted geometry properties of the model are studied. Fractal dimensions of the largest Ising clusters on two sublattices are determined. The fractal dimension of the largest Ising cluster on the sublattice A takes fixed value $D_{\rm a}=1.888(2)$, while that for sublattice B varies continuously with the parameters of the model.

cond-mat.stat-mech↗