Nonlinear Sigma model method for the J1-J2 Heisenberg model: disordered ground state with plaquette symmetry

Using both exact diagonalizations and diagonalizations in a subset of short-range valence bond singlets, we address the nature of the groundstate of the Heisenberg spin-1/2 antiferromagnet on the square lattice with competing next-nearest and next-next-nearest neighbor antiferromagnetic couplings (J1-J2-J3 model). A detailed comparison of the two approaches reveals a region along the line (J2+J3)/J1=1/2, where the description in terms of nearest-neighbor singlet coverings is ...

Ground state energies for plaquette and dimer order in the $J_1-J_2$ square-lattice spin-half Heisenberg model are compared using series expansion methods. We find that these energies are remarkably close to each other at intermediate values of $J_2/J_1$, where the model is believed to have a quantum disordered ground state. They join smoothly with those obtained from the Ising expansions for the 2-sublattice N\'eel-state at $J_2/J_1 \approx 0.4$, suggesting a second order tr...

We investigate low-energy properties of two-dimensional quantum spin systems with the ladder and plaquette structures, which are described by a generalized antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model with both of the bond and spin alternations. By exploiting a non-linear $\sigma$ model technique and a modified spin wave approach, we evaluate the spin gap and the spontaneous magnetization to discuss the quantum phase transition between the ordered and disordered states. We argue how th...

In this paper I briefly review recent theoretical results derived within the Finkel'stein nonlinear sigma model approach for description of 2D interacting disordered electron systems. The examples include an electron system with two valleys, electrons in a double quantum well, electrons on the surface of a topological insulator, an electron system with superconducting correlations, and the integer quantum Hall effect.

We study the spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on the square lattice with first- and second-neighbor antiferromagnetic interactions J1 and J2, which possesses a nonmagnetic region that has been debated for many years and might realize the interesting Z2 spin liquid. We use the density matrix renormalization group approach with explicit implementation of SU(2) spin rotation symmetry and study the model accurately on open cylinders with different boundary conditions. With increasing J2...

We investigate the non magnetic phase of the spin-half frustrated Heisenberg antiferromagnet on the square lattice using exact diagonalization (up to 36 sites) and quantum Monte Carlo techniques (up to 144 sites). The spin gap and the susceptibilities for the most important crystal symmetry breaking operators are computed. A genuine and somehow unexpected `plaquette RVB', with spontaneously broken translation symmetry and no broken rotation symmetry, comes out from our numeri...

Using the coupled cluster method for high orders of approximation and Lanczos exact diagonalization we study the ground-state phase diagram of a quantum spin-1/2 J1-J2 model on the square lattice with plaquette structure. We consider antiferromagnetic (J1>0) as well as ferromagnetic (J1<0) nearest-neighbor interactions together with frustrating antiferromagnetic next-nearest-neighbor interaction J2>0. The strength of inter-plaquette interaction lambda varies between lambda=1 ...

We introduce a quantum spin-1/2 model hosting two exact plaquette singlet ground states in extended parameter regimes. There is an exact phase transition between both phases, at which the system has an extensive ground-state degeneracy. Further, the model exhibits an extensive number of conserved quantities, which allow the prediction of additional phases. We exploit this feature and explore the phase diagram in detail for two specific parameter regimes. The model is based so...

We studied the ground state phase diagram of spin-1/2 J1-J2 XY model on the square lattice with first- J1 and second-neighbor J2 antiferromagnetic interactions using both iDMRG and DMRG approaches. We show that a plaquette valence bond phase is realized in an intermediate region 0.50 <= J2/J1 <= 0.54 between a N\'eel magnetic ordered phase at J2/J1 < 0.50 and a stripy magnetic ordered phase at J2/J1 >= 0.54. The plaquette valence bond phase is characterized by finite dimer or...

The spin-1/2 $J_1$-$J_2$ Heisenberg model on square lattices are investigated via the finite projected entangled pair states (PEPS) method. Using the recently developed gradient optimization method combining with Monte Carlo sampling techniques, we are able to obtain the ground states energies that are competitive to the best results. The calculations show that there is no N\'eel order, dimer order and plaquette order in the region of 0.42 $\lesssim J_2/J_1\lesssim$ 0.6, sugg...