Magnetic phase diagram of a quasi-one-dimensional quantum spin system

Abstract

We propose an analytical ansatz, using which the ordering temperature of a quasi-one-dimensional (quasi-1D) antiferromagnetic (AF) system (weakly coupled quantum spin-1/2 chains) in the presence of the external magnetic field is calculated. The field dependence of the critical exponents for correlation functions of 1D subsystems plays a very important role. It determines the region of possible re-entrant phase transition, governed by the field. It is shown how the quantum critical point between two phases of the 1D subsystem, caused by spin-frustrating next-nearest neighbor (NNN) and multi-spin ring-like exchanges, affects the field dependence of the ordering temperature. Our results qualitatively agree with the features, observed in experiments on quasi-1D AF systems.