Quantum disordered phase in bond-diluted two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnets

ORAL

Abstract

We investigate quantum phase transitions in the spin-$1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet on square lattices with \emph{inhomogeneous} bond dilution. It is shown that quantum fluctuations can be continuously tuned by inhomogeneous bond dilution, eventually leading to the destruction of long-range magnetic order on the percolating cluster. We find two multicritical points at which the magnetic transition separates from the percolation transition, taking a quantum nature. Beyond these multicritical points a quantum-disordered phase appears, characterized by an infinite percolating cluster with short ranged antiferromagnetic order. In this phase, the low-temperature uniform susceptibility diverges algebraically with non-universal exponents. This is a signature that the novel quantum-disordered phase is a \emph{quantum Griffiths phase}, as also directly confirmed by the statistical distribution of local gaps. This study thus presents evidence of a genuine quantum Griffiths phenomenon in a two-dimensional Heisenberg antiferromagnet.

Authors

  • Rong Yu

  • Tommaso Roscilde

    Max-Planck-Institut fuer Quantenoptik - Germany

  • Stephan Haas

    Univ. of Southern California, Department of Physics and Astronomy - USC, Department of Physics and Astronomy, University of Southern California, University of Southern California