Abstract
The magnetoelectric effect of a spin-1/2 Heisenberg-Ising ladder in the presence of external electric and magnetic fields is rigorously examined by taking into account the Katsura-Nagaosa-Balatsky mechanism. It is shown that an applied electric field may control the quantum phase transition between a Néel (stripy) ordered phase and a disordered paramagnetic phase. The staggered magnetization vanishes according to a power law with an Ising-type critical exponent 1/8, the electric polarization exhibits a weak singularity, and the dielectric susceptibility shows a logarithmic divergence at this particular quantum phase transition. The external electric field may alternatively invoke a discontinuous phase transition accompanied with abrupt jumps of the dielectric polarization and susceptibility on the assumption that the external magnetic field becomes nonzero.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.