Quantum criticality in the spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain system copper pyrazine dinitrate

Research output: Contribution to journalResearch articleContributedpeer-review

Contributors

  • Oliver Breunig - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Markus Garst - , Chair of Theoretical Solid State Physics, University of Cologne, TUD Dresden University of Technology (Author)
  • Andreas Klümper - , University of Wuppertal (Author)
  • Jens Rohrkamp - , University of Cologne (Author)
  • Mark M. Turnbull - , Clark University (Author)
  • Thomas Lorenz - , University of Cologne (Author)

Abstract

Low-dimensional quantum magnets promote strong correlations between magnetic moments that lead to fascinating quantum phenomena. A particularly interesting system is the antiferromagnetic spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain because it is exactly solvable by the Bethe-Ansatz method. It is approximately realized in the magnetic insulator copper pyrazine dinitrate, providing a unique opportunity for a quantitative comparison between theory and experiment. We investigate its thermodynamic properties with a particular focus on the field-induced quantum phase transition. Thermal expansion, magnetostriction, specific heat, magnetization, and magnetocaloric measurements are found to be in excellent agreement with exact Bethe-Ansatz predictions. Close to the critical field, thermodynamics obeys the expected quantum critical scaling behavior, and in particular, themagnetocaloric effect and the Grüneisen parameters diverge in a characteristicmanner. Beyond its importance for quantum magnetism, our study establishes a paradigm of a quantum phase transition, which illustrates fundamental principles of quantum critical thermodynamics.

Details

Original languageEnglish
Article numbereaao3773
JournalScience advances
Volume3
Issue number12
Publication statusPublished - Dec 2017
Peer-reviewedYes

External IDs

PubMed 29282449

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas