Nature of the Quantum Phase Transition in Clean, Itinerant Heisenberg Ferromagnets

A novel approach for studying phase transitions in systems with quantum degrees of freedom is discussed. Starting from the microscopic hamiltonian of a quantum model, we first derive a set of exact differential equations for the free energy and the correlation functions describing the effects of fluctuations on the thermodynamics of the system. These equations reproduce the full renormalization group structure in the neighborhood of a critical point keeping, at the same time,...

We present the outline of a proof for the 3-d phase transition which we hope to carry forth. At the same time this paper provides some physical understanding of the phase transition, in the flavor of relatively simple arguments from an undergraduate course. A number of directions for mathematical research, interesting in their own right, will be suggested by aspects of the development. We hope and believe that readers will be enticed by the naturalness and beauty of the path;...

The quantum critical regime (QCR) of a two-dimensional (2D) disordered and a 2D clean dimerized spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ Heisenberg models are studied using the first principles nonperturbative quantum Monte Carlo simulations (QMC). In particular, the three well-known universal coefficients associated with QCR are investigated in detail. While in our investigation we find the obtained results are consistent with the related analytic predictions, non-negligible finite temperature ($...

Phase transitions which occur at zero temperature when some non-thermal parameter like pressure, chemical composition or magnetic field is changed are called quantum phase transitions. They are caused by quantum fluctuations which are a consequence of Heisenberg's uncertainty principle. These lecture notes give a pedagogical introduction to quantum phase transitions. After collecting a few basic facts about phase transitions and critical behavior we discuss the importance of ...

The nature of the superfluid-to-Bose-glass (SF-BG) quantum phase transition, occurring in systems of interacting bosons immersed in a disordered environment, remains elusive. One fundamental open question is whether or not the transition obeys conventional scaling at quantum critical points (QCPs): this scaling would lock the value of the crossover exponent $\phi$ -- dictating the vanishing of the superfluid critical temperature upon approaching the QCP -- to the value of qua...

We discuss magnetically ordered ("superfluid") phase near quantum transition to Bose-glass phase in a simple modeling system, Heisenberg antiferromagnet in spatial dimension $d>2$ in external magnetic field with disorder in exchange coupling constants. Our analytical consideration is based on hydrodynamic description of long-wavelength excitations. Results obtained are valid in the entire critical region near the quantum critical point (QCP) allowing to describe a possible cr...

In recent years, quantum phase transitions have attracted the interest of both theorists and experimentalists in condensed matter physics. These transitions, which are accessed at zero temperature by variation of a non-thermal control parameter, can influence the behavior of electronic systems over a wide range of the phase diagram. Quantum phase transitions occur as a result of competing ground state phases. The cuprate superconductors which can be tuned from a Mott insulati...

Engineering long-range interactions in experimental platforms has been achieved with great success in a large variety of quantum systems in recent years. Inspired by this progress, we propose a generalization of the classical Hamiltonian mean-field model to fermionic particles. We study the phase diagram and thermodynamic properties of the model in the canonical ensemble for ferromagnetic interactions as a function of temperature and hopping. At zero temperature, small charge...

We address the quantum-critical behavior of a two-dimensional itinerant ferromagnetic systems described by a spin-fermion model in which fermions interact with close to critical bosonic modes. We consider Heisenberg ferromagnets, Ising ferromagnets, and the Ising nematic transition. Mean-field theory close to the quantum critical point predicts a superconducting gap with spin-triplet symmetry for the ferromagnetic systems and a singlet gap for the nematic scenario. Studying f...

It is shown that the peculiar features observed in the low-temperature phase diagrams of ZrZn_2, UGe_2, and MnSi can be understood in terms of a simple mean-field theory. The nature of the ferromagnetic transition changes from second order to first order at a tricritical point, and in a small external magnetic field surfaces of first-order transitions emerge which terminate in quantum critical points. This field dependence of the phase diagram follows directly from the existe...