Magnetization Plateaus in Spin Chains: “Haldane Gap” for Half-Integer Spins

Masaki Oshikawa, Masanori Yamanaka, and Ian Affleck
Phys. Rev. Lett. 78, 1984 – Published 10 March 1997
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Abstract

We discuss zero-temperature quantum spin chains in a uniform magnetic field, with axial symmetry. For integer or half-integer spin, S, the magnetization curve can have plateaus and we argue that the magnetization per site m is topologically quantized as n(Sm)=integer at the plateaus, where n is the period of the ground state. We also discuss conditions for the presence of the plateau at those quantized values. For S=3/2 and m=1/2, we study several models and find two distinct types of massive phases at the plateau. One of them is argued to be a “Haldane gap phase” for half-integer S.

  • Received 16 October 1996

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevLett.78.1984

©1997 American Physical Society

Authors & Affiliations

Masaki Oshikawa1, Masanori Yamanaka3, and Ian Affleck1,2

  • 1Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z1
  • 2Canadian Institute for Advanced Research, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, V6T 1Z1
  • 3Department of Applied Physics, University of Tokyo, Hongo, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113, Japan

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Vol. 78, Iss. 10 — 10 March 1997

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