Year: 2012
Type: article
Abstract: We present results for the phase diagram of an SU($N$) generalization of the Heisenberg antiferromagnet on a bipartite three-dimensional anisotropic cubic (tetragonal) lattice as a function of $N$ and the lattice anisotropy $\ensuremath{\gamma}$. In the ``isotropic'' $\ensuremath{\gamma}=1$ cubic limit, we find a transition from N\'eel to valence bond solid (VBS) between $N=9$ and $N=10$. We follow the N\'eel-VBS transition to the limiting cases of $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ll}1$ (weakly coupled layers) and $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\gg}1$ (weakly coupled chains). Throughout the phase diagram we find a direct first-order transition from N\'eel at small $N$ to VBS at large $N$. In the three-dimensional models studied here, we find no evidence for either an intervening spin-liquid ``photon'' phase or a continuous transition, even close to the limit $\ensuremath{\gamma}\ensuremath{\ll}1$ where the isolated layers undergo continuous N\'eel-VBS transitions.
Source: Physical Review B
Authors: Matthew S. Block, Ribhu K. Kaul
Institution: University of Kentucky
Language: English
Subfield: Condensed Matter Physics
Field: Physics and Astronomy
Domain: Physical Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2080574436