Frustration Induced Quantum Phases in Mixed Spin Chain with Frustrated Side Chains

TL;DR

This paper explores how frustration in a mixed spin chain leads to novel quantum phases, including ferrimagnetic and spin quadrupolar states, revealed through numerical and perturbational methods.

Contribution

It uncovers new frustration-induced quantum phases and detailed spin structures in a mixed Heisenberg spin chain with frustrated side chains.

Findings

Discovery of a frustration-induced ferrimagnetic phase with incommensurate spin structure

Identification of a nonmagnetic spin quadrupolar phase adjacent to known phases

Numerical evidence of nearly critical nonmagnetic ground states in highly frustrated regimes

Abstract

A mixed Heisenberg spin chain with frustrated side chains is investigated by numerical and perturbational calculations. A frustration-induced quantum partially polarized ferrimagnetic phase and a nonmagnetic spin quadrupolar phase are found adjacent to the conventional Lieb-Mattis type ferrimagnetic phase or the nonmagnetic singlet cluster solid phases. The partially polarized ferrimagnetic phase has an incommensurate spin structure. Similar structures are commonly found in other frustration-induced partially polarized ferrimagnetic phases. Numerical results also suggest a series of almost critical nonmagnetic ground states in a highly frustrated regime if the side chain spins weakly couple to the main chain.