Alexandria Digital Research Library

Characterizing ground states of low-dimensional quantum magnets

Author:
Ju, Hyejin
Degree Grantor:
University of California, Santa Barbara. Physics
Degree Supervisor:
Simon Trebst and Leon Balents
Place of Publication:
[Santa Barbara, Calif.]
Publisher:
University of California, Santa Barbara
Creation Date:
2013
Issued Date:
2013
Topics:
Physics, General, Physics, Electricity and Magnetism, and Physics, Quantum
Genres:
Online resources and Dissertations, Academic
Dissertation:
Ph.D.--University of California, Santa Barbara, 2013
Description:

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.

Physical Description:
1 online resource (196 pages)
Format:
Text
Collection(s):
UCSB electronic theses and dissertations
ARK:
ark:/48907/f30v89sg
ISBN:
9781303052262
Catalog System Number:
990039787960203776
Rights:
Inc.icon only.dark In Copyright
Copyright Holder:
Hyejin Ju
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