Theoretical study of a one-dimensional chain of alternating spin-1 and electron sites with spin-mediated hopping

ORAL

Abstract

Motivated by the nickel valance controversy in the perovskite nickelate RNiO$_3$, we consider a one-dimensional chain consisting of alternating spin-1 (``nickel'') and electron (``oxygen'') sites, which in addition to the usual electron hopping and spin-spin interaction between the spin-1 and the electron also contains a spin-1 mediated electron hopping term. Using density-matrix renormalization group (DMRG), we obtain the phase diagram of such model, as well as various correlation functions in each phase. Importantly, for certain range of parameters the model exhibits a quasi-long-range spiral (QS) order. To understand the DMRG results, we construct a mean-field theory based on Schwinger fermion decomposition of the spin-1 spins, from which we argue that the QS phase corresponds to a phase in proximity to the spin Bose metal state proposed by Sheng, Motrunich, and Fisher [Phys. Rev. B, 79, 205112 (2009)].

–

Authors

  • Wing-Ho Ko

    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA

  • Hong-Chen Jiang

    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA, 93106-4030, U.S.A.
    • KITP
    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA

  • Jeffrey Rau

    • University of Toronto
    • Department of Physics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A7, Canada

  • Leon Balents

    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara
    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara, California 93106, USA
    • Kavli Institute of Theoretical Physics, UCSB
    • Kavli Institute for Theoretical Physics, University of California, Santa Barbara, CA-93106-9530