Influence of $XY$ anisotropy on a magnetoelectric effect in spin-1/2 $XY$ chain in a transverse magnetic field

TL;DR

This paper analyzes how $XY$ anisotropy influences the magnetoelectric effect in a spin-1/2 $XY$ chain under a transverse magnetic field, revealing non-monotonous magnetization behavior and critical points affecting system gap states.

Contribution

It provides an exact solution for the magnetoelectric effect in a spin-1/2 $XY$ chain with arbitrary anisotropy, highlighting the role of critical points and electric field influence.

Findings

Magnetization depends non-monotonously on $XY$ anisotropy.

Critical points govern the transition between gapped and gapless states.

Singularities in susceptibility occur at critical parameter values.

Abstract

A magnetoelectric effect according to Katsura-Nagaosa-Balatsky mechanism in spin-1/2 $XY$ chain in transverse magnetic field is considered. A spatial orientation of the electric field is chosen to provide an exact solution of the model in terms of free spinless fermions. The simplest model of quantum spin chain demonstrating a magnetoelectric effect, a zero temperature case of the spin-1/2 $XX$ chain in a transverse magnetic field with Katsura-Nagaosa-Balatsky mechanism, is considered. The model has the simplest possible form of the magnetization, polarization and susceptibility functions, depending on electric and magnetic fields in a most simple form. For the case of arbitrary $XY$ anisotropy, a non-monotonous dependence of magnetization on the $XY$ anisotropy parameter is figured out. This non-uniform behaviour is governed by the critical point which is connected with the possibility to drive the system gapless or gapped by the electric field. Singularities of the magnetoelectric susceptibility at the critical value of system parameters are shown.