Magnetic phase diagram of the S=1/2 antiferromagnetic zigzag spin chain in the strongly frustrated region: cusp and plateau

TL;DR

This paper maps the magnetic phases of a strongly frustrated S=1/2 zigzag spin chain, revealing a 1/3 magnetization plateau, cusp singularities, and symmetry breaking using the density matrix renormalization group method.

Contribution

It provides the first detailed phase diagram of the frustrated zigzag spin chain, identifying key features like the 1/3 plateau and cusp singularities with mechanistic insights.

Findings

Magnetization plateau at 1/3 of full moment

Presence of cusp singularities around the plateau

Observation of even-odd effects in the magnetization curve

Abstract

We determine the magnetic phase diagram of the antiferromagnetic(AF) zigzag spin chain in the strongly frustrated region, using the density matrix renormalization group method. We find the magnetization plateau at 1/3 of the full moment accompanying the spontaneous symmetry breaking of the translation, the cusp singularities above and/or below the plateau, and the even-odd effect in the magnetization curve. We also discuss the formation mechanisms of the plateau and cusps briefly.