Field-induced chiral phase in isotropic frustrated spin chains

TL;DR

Applying an external magnetic field to isotropic frustrated spin chains induces a chiral phase with long-range order, challenging previous two-component Luttinger liquid models and offering insights into real material behaviors.

Contribution

The paper demonstrates that magnetic fields induce a chiral phase in isotropic frustrated spin chains, revealing a new phase not predicted by earlier models.

Findings

Magnetic field induces a long-range ordered chiral phase.

Contradicts previous two-component Luttinger liquid scenario.

Relevance to real magnetic materials discussed.

Abstract

It is shown that an external magnetic field applied to a spin-S isotropic zigzag chain induces a phase with spontaneously broken parity, characterized by long range ordering of vector chirality. This is in contrast to the two-component Luttinger liquid scenario proposed in the literature. Relevance to real materials is discussed.