Finite-temperature dynamic structure factor of the spin-1 XXZ chain with single-ion anisotropy

TL;DR

This paper employs advanced matrix-product state techniques to accurately compute the finite-temperature dynamic structure factor of the spin-1 XXZ chain with single-ion anisotropy across various quantum phases, revealing detailed thermal excitation processes.

Contribution

It introduces improved matrix-product state methods for finite-temperature spectral calculations of the spin-1 XXZ chain, capturing phase-dependent scattering phenomena and thermal effects.

Findings

Magnon splitting into singlet and doublet branches in Haldane phase

Separation of intraband and exciton-antiexciton signals in large-D phase

Holon excitations with a gap closing at phase transition

Abstract

Improving matrix-product state techniques based on the purification of the density matrix, we are able to accurately calculate the finite-temperature dynamic response of the infinite spin-1 XXZ chain with single-ion anisotropy in the Haldane, large-$D$ and antiferromagnetic phases. Distinct thermally activated scattering processes make a significant contribution to the spectral weight in all cases. In the Haldane phase intraband magnon scattering is prominent, and the onsite anisotropy causes the magnon to split into singlet and doublet branches. In the large-$D$ phase response, the intraband signal is separated from an exciton-antiexciton continuum. In the antiferromagnetic phase, holons are the lowest-lying excitations, with a gap that closes at the transition to the Haldane state. At finite temperatures, scattering between domain-wall excitations becomes especially important and strongly enhances the spectral weight for momentum transfer $\pi$.