Hidden Z2xZ2 symmetry breaking in Haldane-gap antiferromagnets

Tom Kennedy, Hal Tasaki

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

371 Scopus citations

Abstract

We show that the Haldane phase of the S=1 antiferromagnetic chain is closely related to the breaking of a hidden Z2×Z2 symmetry. When the chain is in the Haldane phase, this Z2×Z2 symmetry is fully broken, but when the chain is in a massive phase other than the Haldane phase, e.g., the Ising phase or the dimerized phase, this symmetry is broken only partially or not at all. The hidden Z2×Z2 symmetry is revealed by introducing a nonlocal unitary transformation of the chain. This unitary transformation also leads to a simple variational calculation which qualitatively reproduces the phase diagram of the S=1 chain.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)304-307
Number of pages4
JournalPhysical Review B
Volume45
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - 1992

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Condensed Matter Physics

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Hidden Z2xZ2 symmetry breaking in Haldane-gap antiferromagnets'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this