Uniaxially anisotropic antiferromagnets in a field along the easy axis

TL;DR

This paper investigates uniaxially anisotropic antiferromagnets under an easy-axis magnetic field using ground state analysis and Monte Carlo simulations, exploring classical and quantum models, and discussing experimental relevance.

Contribution

It introduces a comprehensive analysis of non-collinear spin configurations in anisotropic antiferromagnets, combining classical and quantum Monte Carlo methods, and discusses potential experimental applications.

Findings

Identification of biconical and bidirectional spin structures.

Comparison of classical and quantum Monte Carlo results.

Insights into phase transitions in anisotropic antiferromagnets.

Abstract

Uniaxially anisotropic antiferromagnets in a field along the easy axis are studied with the help of ground state considerations and Monte Carlo simulations. For classical models, the XXZ model as well as variants, we analyze the role of non-collinear spin configurations of biconical or bidirectional type interpolating between the well-known antiferromagnetic and spin-flop structures. Possible experimental applications to layered cuprate antiferromagnets are discussed. Finally, results of quantum Monte Carlo simulations for the S=1/2 XXZ model on a square lattice are presented, and compared with previous findings.