| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Total Authors: 3
|
| Affiliation: | [1] Missouri Univ Sci & Technol, Dept Phys, Rolla, MO 65409 - USA
[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Inst Fis Sao Carlos, BR-13560970 Sao Carlos, SP - Brazil
Total Affiliations: 2
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Physical Review B; v. 86, n. 21 DEC 10 2012. |
| Web of Science Citations: | 14 |
| Abstract | |
We investigate the effects of quenched disorder on first-order quantum phase transitions on the example of the N-color quantum Ashkin-Teller model. By means of a strong-disorder renormalization group, we demonstrate that quenched disorder rounds the first-order quantum phase transition to a continuous one for both weak and strong coupling between the colors. In the strong-coupling case, we find a distinct type of infinite-randomness critical point characterized by additional internal degrees of freedom. We investigate its critical properties in detail and find stronger thermodynamic singularities than in the random transverse field Ising chain. We also discuss the implications for higher spatial dimensions as well as unusual aspects of our renormalization-group scheme. DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevB.86.214204 (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 10/03749-4 - Quantum phase transitions: effects of disorder and dissipation |
| Grantee: | José Abel Hoyos Neto |
| Support Opportunities: | Regular Research Grants |