Zero-temperature properties of the two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet: A numerical study

Using a modified Lanczos method we have studied the two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnetic model (at zero temperature) with lattices up to 24 sites. The ground-state and first-excited-state energies are evaluated. We show that the model is gapless in the thermodynamic limit in agreement with recent Monte Carlo simulations. Accurate results for the ‘‘square ladder’’ are also presented showing that this model is massive. The finite-size dependence of the results is discussed. In addition, we calculate the energy of a resonating-valence-bond state on finite lattices and its overlap with the exact ground state.