Fluctuation-driven first order behavior near the T=0 two dimensional stripe to fermi liquid transition

TL;DR

This paper explores how fluctuation competition near a quantum phase transition can induce a first order behavior and an intermediate nematic state in a two-dimensional system transitioning from a Fermi liquid to a spin density wave state.

Contribution

It demonstrates that fluctuation competition can lead to a fluctuation-driven first order transition and the emergence of a nematic phase, providing insights into quantum critical behavior.

Findings

First order transition preempted by fluctuations at the marginal dimension.

Weak symmetry breaking fields can restore second order magnetic transitions.

Enhanced rotational symmetry breaking in an intermediate regime.

Abstract

The possibility is investigated that competition between fluctuations at different symmetry-related ordering wave vectors may affect the quantum phase transition between a fermi liquid and a longitudinal spin density wave state, in particular giving rise to an intermediate 'nematic' state with broken rotational symmetry but unbroken translational symmetry. At the marginal dimension the nematic transition is found to be preempted by a first order transition but a weak symmetry breaking field restores a second order magnetic transition with an intermediate regime in which correlations substantially enhance the broken rotational symmetry. Comparison to recent experiments is made.