Quasihole excitation in a quantum antiferromagnet: Variational Monte Carlo calculation

Journal Article · Wed May 01 04:00:00 EDT 1991 · Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.43.10353· OSTI ID:5536254

Boninsegni, M; Manousakis, E ^[1]

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1. Department of Physics, Center for Materials Research and Technology Supercomputer Computations Research Institute, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida 32306 (USA)

We study a single quasihole excitation in a quantum antiferromagnet using a variational wave function that includes spin-spin as well as spin-hole correlations. The wave function can be cast in the form of a complex correlation operator acting on a Marshall-type wave function for the spin background. Such a correlation operator, featuring momentum-dependent spin-hole correlations, is shown to correspond to a coherent local rotation of the spins, which can be also interpreted as a spin-backflow'' current, analogous to the Feynman-Cohen backflow current in helium liquids. The variational Monte Carlo method is used to calculate the hole excitation spectrum on a square lattice for the {ital t}-{ital J} model with this wave function. Comparing our results with available exact results on a 4{times}4 square lattice, we find qualitative and semiquantitative agreement. We provide results obtained on much larger lattices. We find that the quasihole energy band attains its minimum at {bold k}=({plus minus}{pi}/2,{plus minus}{pi}/2) while the hole mass is strongly anisotropic in different directions of {bold k} space. The quasihole excitation creates both a planar long-range distortion of the antiferromagnetic (AF) moment of the background {delta}{ital m}{sup {dagger}}({ital r}{r arrow}{infinity}){similar to}({bold k}{center dot}{bold r})/{ital r}{sup 2} and a ferromagnetic moment localized in the immediate neighborhood of the hole, pointing in the perpendicular direction. The magnitude of the ferromagnetic moment depends on the momentum of the excitation, and at the minimum of the hole band only the long-range AF planar distortion is present.

• DOE Contract Number: FC05-85ER25000
• OSTI ID: 5536254
• Journal Information: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA), Journal Name: Physical Review, B: Condensed Matter; (USA) Vol. 43:13; ISSN 0163-1829; ISSN PRBMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

656002* -- Condensed Matter Physics-- General Techniques in Condensed Matter-- (1987-)
75 CONDENSED MATTER PHYSICS
SUPERCONDUCTIVITY AND SUPERFLUIDITY
ANTIFERROMAGNETIC MATERIALS
CORRELATION FUNCTIONS
CRYSTAL MODELS
ENERGY LEVELS
EXCITED STATES
FUNCTIONS
HIGH-TC SUPERCONDUCTORS
HOLES
MAGNETIC MATERIALS
MATERIALS
MATHEMATICAL MODELS
MONTE CARLO METHOD
SUPERCONDUCTORS
TWO-DIMENSIONAL CALCULATIONS
VARIATIONAL METHODS
WAVE FUNCTIONS