Real-space renormalization group method for quantum 1/2 spins on the pyrochlore lattice

TL;DR

This paper introduces a simple real-space renormalization group approach for quantum Heisenberg spins on a pyrochlore lattice, analyzing phase diagrams and critical temperatures for spin-1/2 systems with various magnetic orders.

Contribution

It develops a phenomenological RG method specifically for quantum spins on a pyrochlore lattice, focusing on fixed points and phase diagrams with simplified phase considerations.

Findings

Reproduces the phase diagram of the pyrochlore lattice fairly well.

Identifies phases including quantum spin liquid, ferromagnetic, and non-collinear order.

Analyzes differences between quantum and classical models.

Abstract

A simple phenomenological real-space renormalization group method for quantum Heisenberg spins with nearest and next nearest neighbour interactions on a pyrochlore lattice is presented. Assuming a scaling law for the order parameter of two clusters of different sizes a set of coupled equations that gives the fixed points of the renormalization group transformation and, thus, the critical temperatures and ordered phases of the system is found. The particular case of spins $\frac{1}{2}$ is studied in detail. Furthermore, to simplify the mathematical details, from all the possible phases arising from the renormalization group transformation, only those phases in which the magnetic lattice is commensurate with a subdivision of the crystal lattice into four interlocked fcc sublattices are considered. These correspond to a quantum spin liquid, ferromagnetic order, or non-collinear order in which the total magnetic moment of a tetrahedral unit is zero. The corresponding phase diagram is constructed and the differences with respect to the classical model are analysed. It is found that this method reproduces fairly well the phase diagram of the pyrochlore lattice under the aforementioned constrains.