Characterizing Ground States of Low-dimensional Quantum Magnets
Characterizing Ground States of Low-dimensional Quantum Magnets

Author: Hyejin Ju

Publisher:

Published: 2013

Total Pages: 196

ISBN-13: 9781303052262

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The study of frustration in quantum magnetism has been the focus of extensive research in the past couple of decades. The class of materials in this category is typically strongly correlated, due to strong electron-electron repulsion. In one- and two-dimensions, quantum fluctuations dominate these systems, and often, semi-classical approximations become an oversimplification. This thesis is concerned with exploring exotic physics that can emerge in low-dimensional quantum magnets. First, we use a T = 0 projected Monte Carlo algorithm in the valence bond basis to study the entanglement scaling of two-dimensional (2d) gapless systems. In particular, we focus on the resonating-valence-bond wavefunction as well as the gapless Goldstone mode in the Heisenberg model on the square lattice. We find that, in addition to the area law, there is a subleading, shape-dependent piece to the entanglement entropy, which is reminiscent of one dimensional (1d) gapless systems. We then explore the Heisenberg model under an applied magnetic field on the quasi-1d problem of a three-leg triangular spin tube (TST), using extensive density-matrix-renormalization group calculations coupled with analytical arguments to describe the results. We find that the physics describing this model differs from some of the well-known results on the two dimensional lattice, especially near low magnetic fields and at 1/3 magnetization. Finally, further research and possibilities in numerical techniques are discussed.

Magnetic Field Effects in Low-Dimensional Quantum Magnets
Magnetic Field Effects in Low-Dimensional Quantum Magnets

Author: Adam Iaizzi

Publisher: Springer

Published: 2018-11-28

Total Pages: 156

ISBN-13: 3030018032

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This thesis is a tour-de-force combination of analytic and computational results clarifying and resolving important questions about the nature of quantum phase transitions in one- and two-dimensional magnetic systems. The author presents a comprehensive study of a low-dimensional spin-half quantum antiferromagnet (the J-Q model) in the presence of a magnetic field in both one and two dimensions, demonstrating the causes of metamagnetism in such systems and providing direct evidence of fractionalized excitations near the deconfined quantum critical point. In addition to describing significant new research results, this thesis also provides the non-expert with a clear understanding of the nature and importance of computational physics and its role in condensed matter physics as well as the nature of phase transitions, both classical and quantum. It also contains an elegant and detailed but accessible summary of the methods used in the thesis—exact diagonalization, Monte Carlo, quantum Monte Carlo and the stochastic series expansion—that will serve as a valuable pedagogical introduction to students beginning in this field.

Exotic Ground States in Novel Quantum Magnets
Exotic Ground States in Novel Quantum Magnets

Author: Charuni Dissanayake

Publisher:

Published: 2023

Total Pages: 0

ISBN-13:

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Quantum mechanical frustration (QMF) in magnetic materials has become a pivotal ingredient in discovering intriguing properties of materials. The quantum spin liquid (QSL) state is a prime consequence of frustration in which spin fluctuations persist to absolute zero temperature. This orderless state is not characterized by symmetry breaking and guarantees an infinite degeneracy in its ground state. The quest to realize such nontrivial ground states in view of spin correlation, elementary excitation, topology, and geometry requires convincing experimental evidence. QMF is often manifested in unique lattice systems, such as spin-1/2 hyper-honeycomb lattices with strong spin-orbit coupling and geometrically frustrated Kagome lattices. Metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) that comprise metal ions with organic linkers via coordinate bonds have recently been proposed to realize the QSL ground state. Owing to the vast versatility of constituent's, the copper-oxalate MOF, [(C2H5)3NH]2Cu2(C2O4)3, unfolds a new avenue for us to realize unusual magnetic phases. To investigate the exotic ground state, we synthesized single crystals of [(C2H5)3NH]2Cu2(C2O4)3 and measured their thermodynamic properties. Our low-temperature and high-magnetic-field heat-capacity (Cp) measurements corroborate an exotic but rich ground state in [(C2H5)3NH]2Cu2(C2O4)3. A finite linear-in temperature Cp term with no indication of any thermal anomaly was observed at low temperature in zero field, indicating the absence of magnetic order and the presence of gapless spinon excitations despite the Mott insulating phase. Applied magnetic fields suppress the low-temperature Cp and drive the system into a gapped phase. The field-induced gap is described by the sine-Gorden model for quasi-one-dimensional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg chains, originating from anisotropic magnetic exchange interactions due to the Jahn-Teller distortion. Kagome lattices are archetypes of potential QSL, superconducting, Chern insulating states due to flat energy bands, Dirac fermions, and van Hove singularities in its electronic band structure. Sc3Mn3Al7Si5 is a transition metal compound with a hexagonal structure in which magnetic Mn atoms form kagome nets and does not show magnetic order down to 2 K, suggestive of a possible itinerant QSL. In this dissertation, to elucidate its exotic ground state, we synthesized single crystals of Sc3Mn3Al7Si5 and measured magnetoresistance, Cp, soft point contact spectroscopy, and torque magnetometry at low temperatures and high magnetic fields. Our experimental results suggest that the unusual ground state is induced by dispersionless energy bands induced by strong electron correlations. Our findings through distinct states of matter spanning from Mott insulators to itinerant metals will provide new insights to characterize the ground state in novel quantum magnets.

Magnetic Exchange Disorder in Low-dimensional Quantum Magnets
Magnetic Exchange Disorder in Low-dimensional Quantum Magnets

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Low-dimensional quantum magnetism is currently of great interest due to the fact that reduced dimensionality can support strong quantum fluctuations, which may lead to unusual phenomena and quantum-critical behavior. The effect of random exchange strengths in two-dimensional (2D) antiferromagnets is still not fully understood despite much effort. This project aims to rectify this by investigating the high-field properties of the 2D coordination polymer (QuinH)2Cu(ClxBr1-x)4.2H2O. The exchange pathway is through Cu-Halide-Cu bonds, and by randomizing the proportion of chlorine and bromine atoms in the unit cell, disorder can be introduced into the system.

Transport Studies of Quantum Magnetism
Transport Studies of Quantum Magnetism

Author:

Publisher:

Published: 2017

Total Pages: 10

ISBN-13:

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The main goal of this project was to understand novel ground states of spin systems probed by thermal and electrical transport measurements. They are well-suited to characterize the nature of low-energy excitations as unique property of the ground state. More specifically, it was aimed to study the transverse electrical conductivity in the presence of non-collinear and non-coplanar spin ordering and the effects of gauge field as well as novel spin excitations as a coherent heat transport channel in insulating quantum magnets. Most of works done during the grant period focused on these topics. As a natural extension of the project's initial goals, the scope was broadened to include transport studies on the spin systems with strong spin-orbit coupling. One particular focus was an exploration of systems with strong magnetic anisotropy combined with non-trivial spin configuration. Magnetic anisotropy is directly related to implement the non-collinear spin ordering to the existing common geometry of planar devices and thus poses a significant potential. Work in this direction includes the comparison of the topological Hall signal under hydrostatic pressure and chemical doping, as well as the angular dependence dependence of the non-collinear spin ordered phase and their evolution up on temperature and field strength. Another focus was centered around the experimental identification of spin-originated heat carrying excitation in quasi two dimensional honeycomb lattice, where Kitaev type of quantum spin liquid phase is expected to emerge. In fact, when its long range magnetic order is destroyed by the applied field, we discovered anomalously large enhancement of thermal conductivity, for which proximate Kitaev excitations in field-induced spin liquid state are responsible for. This work, combined with further investigations in materials in the similar class may help establish the experimental characterization of new quantum spin liquid and their unique low energy excitation, e.g. Majorana fermions.