Bridging lattice-scale physics and continuum field theory with quantum monte carlo simulations

Ribhu K. Kaul, Roger G. Melko, Anders W. Sandvik

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

89 Scopus citations

Abstract

We discuss designer Hamiltonians-lattice models tailored to be free from sign problems ("de-signed") when simulated with quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) methods but which still host complex many-body states and quantum phase transitions of interest in condensed matter physics. We focus on quantum spin systems in which competing interactions lead to nonmagnetic ground states. These states and the associated quantum phase transitions can be studied in great detail, enabling direct access to universal properties and connections with low-energy effective quantum field theories. As specific examples, we discuss the transition from a Néel antiferromagnet to either a uniform quantum paramagnet or a spontaneously symmetry-broken valence-bond solid (VBS) in SU(2) and SU(N) invariant spin models. We also discuss anisotropic (XXZ) systems harboring topological Z2 spin liquids and the XY* transition. We briefly review recent progress on QMC algorithms, including ground-state projection in the valence-bond basis and direct computation of the Renyi variants of the entanglement entropy.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)179-215
Number of pages37
JournalAnnual Review of Condensed Matter Physics
Volume4
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Apr 2013

Funding

FundersFunder number
U.S. Department of Energy Chinese Academy of Sciences Guangzhou Municipal Science and Technology Project Oak Ridge National Laboratory Extreme Science and Engineering Discovery Environment National Science Foundation National Energy Research Scientific Computing Center National Natural Science Foundation of China1104708, 0844115, 1056536

    Keywords

    • fractionalization
    • quantum criticality
    • quantum spin liquid
    • valence-bond solid

    ASJC Scopus subject areas

    • General Materials Science
    • Condensed Matter Physics

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