Field-driven quantum phase transitions in $S=1/2$ spin chains

Abstract: We study the magnetization process of a 1D extended Heisenberg model, the $J$-$Q$ model, as a function of an external magnetic field. In this model, $J$ represents the traditional antiferromagnetic Heisenberg exchange and $Q$ is the strength of a competing four-spin interaction. Without external field, this system hosts a twofold-degenerate dimerized (valence-bond solid) state above a critical value $q_c\approx 0.85$ where $q\equiv Q/J$. The dimer order is destroyed and replaced by a partially polarized translationally invariant state at a critical field value. We find magnetization jumps (metamagnetism) between the partially polarized and fully polarized state for $q>q_{\rm min}$, where we have calculated $q_{\rm min}=2/9$ exactly. For $q>q_{\rm min}$ two magnons (flipped spins on a fully polarized background) attract and form a bound state. Quantum Monte Carlo studies confirm that the bound state corresponds to the first step of an instability leading to a finite magnetization jump for $q>q_{\rm min}$. Our results show that neither geometric frustration nor spin-anisotropy are necessary conditions for metamagnetism. Working in the two-magnon subspace, we also find evidence pointing to the existence of metamagnetism in the unfrustrated $J_1$-$J_2$ chain ($J_1>0$, $J_2<0$), but only if $J_2$ is spin-anisotropic. We also investigate quantum-critical scaling near the transition into the fully polarized state for $q\le q_{\rm min}$ at $T>0$. While the expected `zero-scale-factor' universality is clearly seen for $q=0$ and $q\ll q_{\rm min}$; closer to $q_{\rm min}$ we find that extremely low temperatures are required to observe the asymptotic behavior, due to the influence of the tricritical point at $q_{\rm min}$, which leads to a cross-over at a temperature $T^*(q)$ between logarithmic tricritical scaling and zero-scale-factor universality, with $T^*(q)\to 0$ when $q\to q_{\rm min}$.