Valence Bond Solid Phase Research Articles

XY-VBS phase boundary for the square-lattice J1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_1$$\\end{document}-J2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_2$$\\end{document}XXZ model with the ring exchange

The square-lattice J1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_1$$\\end{document}-J2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_2$$\\end{document}XXZ model with the ring-exchange interaction K was investigated numerically. As for the hard-core-boson model with the nearest-neighbor hopping J1/2\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_1/2$$\\end{document}, namely, the J1\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_1$$\\end{document}-KXY model, it has been reported that the ring exchange leads to a variety of exotic phases such as the valence-bond-solid (VBS) phase. In this paper, we extend the parameter space to investigate the phase boundary between the XY (superfluid) and VBS phases. A notable feature is that the phase boundary terminates at the fully frustrated point, J2/J1→0.5-\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$J_2/J_1 \\rightarrow 0.5^-$$\\end{document}. As a scaling parameter for the multi-criticality, the distance from the multi-critical point δ(≥0)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta (\\ge 0)$$\\end{document} is introduced. To detect the phase transition, we employed the high-order fidelity susceptibility χF(3)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\chi ^{(3)}_F$$\\end{document}, which is readily evaluated via the exact-diagonalization scheme. As a demonstration, for a fixed value of δ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta $$\\end{document}, the XY-VBS criticality was analyzed by the probe χF(3)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\chi ^{(3)}_F$$\\end{document}. Thereby, with properly scaling δ\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\delta $$\\end{document}, the χF(3)\\documentclass[12pt]{minimal} \\usepackage{amsmath} \\usepackage{wasysym} \\usepackage{amsfonts} \\usepackage{amssymb} \\usepackage{amsbsy} \\usepackage{mathrsfs} \\usepackage{upgreek} \\setlength{\\oddsidemargin}{-69pt} \\begin{document}$$\\chi ^{(3)}_F$$\\end{document} data were cast into the crossover-scaling formula to determine the multi-criticality.Graphic abstract

SO(5) Deconfined Phase Transition under the Fuzzy-Sphere Microscope: Approximate Conformal Symmetry, Pseudo-Criticality, and Operator Spectrum

The deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) is an example of phase transitions beyond the Landau symmetry-breaking paradigm that attracts wide interest. However, its nature has not been settled after decades of study. In this paper, we apply the recently proposed fuzzy-sphere regularization to study the SO(5) nonlinear sigma model with a topological Wess-Zumino-Witten term, which serves as a dual description of the DQCP with an exact SO(5) symmetry. We demonstrate that the fuzzy sphere functions as a powerful microscope, magnifying and revealing a wealth of crucial information about the DQCP, ultimately paving the way toward its final answer. In particular, through exact diagonalization, we provide clear evidence that the DQCP exhibits approximate conformal symmetry. The evidence includes the existence of a conserved SO(5) symmetry current, a stress tensor, and integer-spaced levels between conformal primaries and their descendants. Most remarkably, we identify 23 primaries and 76 conformal descendants. Furthermore, by examining the renormalization group flow of the lowest symmetry singlet as well as other primaries, we provide numerical evidence in favor of DQCP being pseudo-critical, with the approximate conformal symmetry plausibly emerging from nearby complex fixed points. The primary spectrum we compute also has important implications, including the conclusion that the SO(5) DQCP cannot describe a direct transition from the Néel to valence bond solid phase on the honeycomb lattice. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Kitaev-Heisenberg model on the star lattice: From chiral Majorana fermions to chiral triplons

The interplay of frustrated interactions and lattice geometry can lead to a variety of exotic quantum phases. Here we unearth a particularly rich phase diagram of the Kitaev-Heisenberg model on the star lattice, a triangle decorated honeycomb lattice breaking sublattice symmetry. In the antiferromagnetic regime, the interplay of Heisenberg coupling and geometric frustration leads to the formation of valence bond solid (VBS) phases—a singlet VBS and a bond selective triplet VBS stabilized by the Kitaev exchange. We show that the ratio of the Kitaev versus Heisenberg exchange tunes between these VBS phases and chiral quantum spin-liquid regimes. Remarkably, the VBS phases host a whole variety of chiral triplon excitations with high Chern numbers in the presence of a weak magnetic field. We discuss our results in light of a recently synthesized star lattice material and other decorated lattice systems. Published by the American Physical Society 2024

Emergent symmetry in quantum phase transition: From deconfined quantum critical point to gapless quantum spin liquid

The emergence of exotic quantum phenomena in frustrated magnets is rapidly driving the development of quantum many-body physics, raising fundamental questions on the nature of quantum phase transitions. Here we unveil the behaviour of emergent symmetry involving two extraordinarily representative phenomena, i.e., the deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) and the quantum spin liquid (QSL) state. Via large-scale tensor network simulations, we study a spatially anisotropic spin-1/2 square-lattice frustrated antiferromagnetic (AFM) model, namely the J1x-J1y-J2 model, which contains anisotropic nearest-neighbor couplings J1x,J1y and the next nearest neighbor coupling J2. For small J1y/J1x, by tuning J2, a direct continuous transition between the AFM and valence bond solid phase is observed. With growing J1y/J1x, a gapless QSL phase gradually emerges between the AFM and VBS phases. We observe an emergent O(4) symmetry along the AFM–VBS transition line, which is consistent with the prediction of DQCP theory. Most surprisingly, we find that such an emergent O(4) symmetry holds for the whole QSL–VBS transition line as well. These findings reveal the intrinsic relationship between the QSL and DQCP from categorical symmetry point of view, and strongly constrain the quantum field theory description of the QSL phase. The phase diagram and critical exponents presented in this paper are of direct relevance to future experiments on frustrated magnets and cold atom systems.

1-form symmetry and the selection rule of the plaquette valence bond solid phase on the kagome lattice

1-form symmetry and the selection rule of the plaquette valence bond solid phase on the kagome lattice

Emergent Glassy Behavior in a Kagome Rydberg Atom Array.

We present large-scale quantum MonteCarlo simulation results on a realistic Hamiltonian of kagome-lattice Rydberg atom arrays. Although the system has no intrinsic disorder, intriguingly, our analyses of static and dynamic properties on large system sizes reveal emergent glassy behavior in a region of parameter space located between two valence bond solid phases. The extent of this glassy region is demarcated using the Edwards-Anderson order parameter, and its phase transitions to the two proximate valence bond solids-as well as the crossover towards a trivial paramagnetic phase-are identified. We demonstrate the intrinsically slow (imaginary) time dynamics deep inside the glassy phase and discuss experimental considerations for detecting such a quantum disordered phase with numerous nearly degenerate local minima. Our proposal paves a new route to the study of real-time glassy phenomena and highlights the potential for quantum simulation of a distinct phase of quantum matter beyond solids and liquids in current-generation Rydberg platforms.

Variational Quantum Simulation of Valence-Bond Solids

We introduce a hybrid quantum-classical variational algorithm to simulate ground-state phase diagrams of frustrated quantum spin models in the thermodynamic limit. The method is based on a cluster-Gutzwiller ansatz where the wave function of the cluster is provided by a parameterized quantum circuit whose key ingredient is a two-qubit real XY gate allowing to efficiently generate valence-bonds on nearest-neighbor qubits. Additional tunable single-qubit Z- and two-qubit ZZ-rotation gates allow the description of magnetically ordered and paramagnetic phases while restricting the variational optimization to the U(1) subspace. We benchmark the method against the J1−J2 Heisenberg model on the square lattice and uncover its phase diagram, which hosts long-range ordered Neel and columnar anti-ferromagnetic phases, as well as an intermediate valence-bond solid phase characterized by a periodic pattern of 2×2 strongly-correlated plaquettes. Our results show that the convergence of the algorithm is guided by the onset of long-range order, opening a promising route to synthetically realize frustrated quantum magnets and their quantum phase transition to paramagnetic valence-bond solids with currently developed superconducting circuit devices.

Sigma-model analysis of SU(3) antiferromagnetic spins on the triangular lattice

Using field-theoretic techniques, we study the $\mathrm{SU}(3)$ analog of antiferromagnetic Heisenberg spin model on the triangular lattice putting the $p$-box symmetric representation on each site. Taking the large-$p$ limit, we show that the low-energy effective theory is described by a $(2+1)$-dimensional relativistic $\mathrm{SU}(3)/\mathrm{U}{(1)}^{2}$ nonlinear sigma model. Since the target space has a nontrivial homotopy ${\ensuremath{\pi}}_{2}(\mathrm{SU}(3)/\mathrm{U}{(1)}^{2})\ensuremath{\simeq}{\mathbb{Z}}^{2}$, this model has two kinds of magnetic skyrmions, which can be created and annihilated by monopole instantons. By careful analysis of the Wess-Zumino term in the spin coherent path integral, we compute the Berry phase for these monopoles and it produces the destructive interference. This restricts possible perturbations of the effective Lagrangian by monopole operators, and we see that the valence-bond-solid (VBS) phase should have degenerate ground states when $p\ensuremath{\notin}3\mathbb{Z}$. We also compute 't Hooft anomalies to constrain possible phases of this system, and a direct phase transition between N\'eel and VBS phases is supported from the anomaly matching.

Antiferromagnetism Induced by Bond Su-Schrieffer-Heeger Electron-Phonon Coupling: A Quantum MonteCarlo Study.

Antiferromagnetism (AFM) such as Néel ordering is often closely related to Coulomb interactions such as Hubbard repulsion in two-dimensional (2D) systems. Whether Néel AFM ordering in two dimensions can be dominantly induced by electron-phonon couplings (EPC) has not been completely understood. Here, by employing numerically exact sign-problem-free quantum MonteCarlo (QMC) simulations, we show that bond Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) phonons with frequency ω and EPC constant λ can induce AFM ordering for a wide range of phonon frequency ω>ω_{c}. For ω<ω_{c}, a valence-bond-solid (VBS) order appears and there is a direct quantum phase transition between VBS and AFM phases at ω_{c}. The phonon mechanism of the AFM ordering is related to the fact that SSH phonons directly couple to electron hopping whose second-order process can induce an effective AFM spin exchange. Our results shall shed new light on understanding AFM ordering in correlated quantum materials.

Quantum Monte Carlo study of topological phases on a spin analogue of Benalcazar–Bernevig–Hughes model

We study the higher-order topological spin phases based on a spin analogue of Benalcazar–Bernevig–Hughes model in two dimensions using large-scale quantum Monte Carlo simulations. A continuous Néel-valence bond solid quantum phase transition is revealed by tuning the ratio between dimerized spin couplings, namely, the weak and strong exchange couplings. Through the finite-size scaling analysis, we identify the phase critical points, and consequently, map out the full phase diagrams in related parameter spaces. Particularly, we find that the valence bond solid phase can be a higher-order topological spin phase, which has a gap for spin excitations in the bulk while demonstrates characteristic gapless spin modes at corners of open lattices. We further discuss the connection between the higher-order topological spin phases and the electronic correlated higher-order phases, and find both of them possess gapless spin corner modes that are protected by higher-order topology. Our result exemplifies higher-order physics in the correlated spin systems and will contribute to further understandings of the many-body higher-order topological phenomena.

One-dimensional model for deconfined criticality with Z3×Z3 symmetry

We continue recent efforts to discover examples of deconfined quantum criticality in one-dimensional models. In this work we investigate the transition between a $\mathbb{Z}_3$ ferromagnet and a phase with valence bond solid (VBS) order in a spin chain with $\mathbb{Z}_3\times\mathbb{Z}_3$ global symmetry. We study a model with alternating projective representations on the sites of the two sublattices, allowing the Hamiltonian to connect to an exactly solvable point having VBS order with the character of SU(3)-invariant singlets. Such a model does not admit a Lieb-Schultz-Mattis theorem typical of systems realizing deconfined critical points. Nevertheless, we find evidence for a direct transition from the VBS phase to a $\mathbb{Z}_3$ ferromagnet. Finite-entanglement scaling data are consistent with a second-order or weakly first-order transition. We find in our parameter space an integrable lattice model apparently describing the phase transition, with a very long, finite, correlation length of 190878 lattice spacings. Based on exact results for this model, we propose that the transition is extremely weakly first order, and is part of a family of DQCP described by walking of renormalization group flows.

Valence bond solid and possible deconfined quantum criticality in an extended kagome lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnet

We present numerical evidence for the emergence of an extended valence bond solid (VBS) phase at $T=0$ in the kagome $S=1/2$ Heisenberg antiferromagnet with ferromagnetic further-neighbor interactions. The VBS is located at the boundary between two magnetically ordered regions and extends close to the nearest-neighbor Heisenberg point. It exhibits a diamond-like singlet covering pattern with a $12$-site unit-cell. Our results suggest the possibility of a direct, possibly continuous, quantum phase transition from the neighboring $\mathbf{q}=0$ coplanar magnetically ordered phase into the VBS phase. Moreover, a second phase which breaks lattice symmetries, and is of likely spin-nematic type, is found close to the transition to the ferromagnetic phase. The results have been obtained using numerical Exact Diagonalization. We discuss implications of our results on the nature of nearest-neighbor Heisenberg antiferromagnet.

Mean-field theory of interacting triplons in a two-dimensional valence-bond solid: Stability and properties of many-triplon states

We study a system of interacting triplons (the elementary excitations of a valence-bond solid) described by an effective interacting boson model derived within the bond-operator formalism. In particular, we consider the square lattice spin-1/2 $J_1$-$J_2$ antiferromagnetic Heisenberg model, focus on the intermediate parameter region, where a quantum paramagnetic phase sets in, and consider the columnar valence-bond solid phase. Within the bond-operator theory, the Heisenberg model is mapped into an effective boson model in terms of triplet operators $t$. The effective boson model is studied at the harmonic approximation and the energy of the triplons and the expansion of the triplon operators $b$ in terms of the triplet operators $t$ are determined. Such an expansion allows us to performed a second mapping, and therefore, determine an effective interacting boson model in terms of the triplon operators $b$. We then consider systems with a fixed number of triplons and determined the ground-state energy and the spectrum of elementary excitations within a mean-field approximation. We show that many-triplon states are stable, the lowest-energy ones are constituted by a small number of triplons, and the excitation gaps are finite. For $J_2=0.48 J_1$ and $J_2=0.52 J_1$, we also calculate spin-spin and dimer-dimer correlation functions, dimer order parameters, and the bipartite von Neumann entanglement entropy within our mean-field formalism in order to determine the properties of the many-triplon state as a function of the triplon number. We find that the spin and the dimer correlations decay exponentially and that the entanglement entropy obeys an area law, regardless the triplon number. Moreover, only for $J_2=0.48 J_1$, the spin correlations indicate that the many-triplon states with large triplon number might display a more homogeneous singlet pattern than the columnar valence-bond solid.

Global anomaly matching in the higher-dimensional CPN−1 model

We investigate 't Hooft anomalies in the $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ model in spacetime dimensions higher than two and identify two types of anomalies: One is a mixed anomaly between the $\mathrm{PSU}(N)$ flavor-rotation and magnetic symmetries, and the other is between the reflection and magnetic symmetries. The latter indicates that even in the absence of the flavor symmetry, the model cannot have a unique gapped ground state as long as the reflection and magnetic symmetries are respected. We also clarified the condition for the 't Hooft anomalies to survive under monopole deformations, which explicitly break the magnetic symmetry down to its discrete subgroup. Besides, we explicitly show how the identified 't Hooft anomalies match in the low-energy effective description of symmetry broken phases---the N\'eel, $\mathrm{U}(1)$ spin liquid, and the valence bond solid phases. An application to the finite-temperature phase diagram of the four-dimensional $\mathbb{CP}^{N-1}$ model is also discussed.

Tunable deconfined quantum criticality and interplay of different valence-bond solid phases**Project supported by the NSF under Grant No.DMR-1710170 and by a Simons Investigator Grant.

We use quantum Monte Carlo simulations to study an S = 1/2 spin model with competing multi-spin interactions. We find a quantum phase transition between a columnar valence-bond solid (cVBS) and a Néel antiferromagnet (AFM), as in the scenario of deconfined quantum-critical points, as well as a transition between the AFM and a staggered valence-bond solid (sVBS). By continuously varying a parameter, the sVBS–AFM and AFM–cVBS boundaries merge into a direct sVBS–cVBS transition. Unlike previous models with putative deconfined AFM–cVBS transitions, e.g., the standard J–Q model, in our extended J–Q model with competing cVBS and sVBS inducing terms the transition can be tuned from continuous to first-order. We find the expected emergent U(1) symmetry of the microscopically Z4 symmetric cVBS order parameter when the transition is continuous. In contrast, when the transition changes to first-order, the clock-like Z4 fluctuations are absent and there is no emergent higher symmetry. We argue that the confined spinons in the sVBS phase are fracton-like. We also present results for an SU(3) symmetric model with a similar phase diagram. The new family of models can serve as a useful tool for further investigating open questions related to deconfined quantum criticality and its associated emergent symmetries.

Valence Bond Orders at Charge Neutrality in a Possible Two-Orbital Extended Hubbard Model for Twisted Bilayer Graphene.

An extended Hubbard model on a honeycomb lattice with two orbitals per site at charge neutrality is investigated with unbiased large-scale quantum MonteCarlo simulations. The Fermi velocity of the Dirac fermions is renormalized as the cluster charge interaction increases, until a mass term emerges and a quantum phase transition from Dirac semimetal to valence bond solid (VBS) insulator is established. The quantum critical point is discovered to belong to the 3D N=4 Gross-Neveu chiral XY universality with the critical exponents obtained at high precision. Further enhancement of the interaction drives the system into two different VBS phases, the properties and transition between them are also revealed. Since the model is related to magic-angle twisted bilayer graphene, our results may have relevance towards the symmetry breaking order at the charge neutrality point of the material, and associate the wide range of universal strange metal behavior around it with quantum critical fluctuations.

Emergent symmetry and conserved current at a one-dimensional incarnation of deconfined quantum critical point

The deconfined quantum critical point (DQCP) was originally proposed as a continuous transition between two spontaneous symmetry breaking phases in 2D spin-1/2 systems. While great efforts have been spent on the DQCP for 2D systems, both theoretically and numerically, ambiguities among the nature of the transition are still not completely clarified. Here we shift the focus to a recently proposed 1D incarnation of DQCP in a spin-1/2 chain. By solving it with the variational matrix product state in the thermodynamic limit, a continuous transition between a valence-bond solid phase and a ferromagnetic phase is discovered. The scaling dimensions of various operators are calculated and compared with those from field theoretical description. At the critical point, two emergent O(2) symmetries are revealed, and the associated conserved current operators with exact integer scaling dimensions are determined with scrutiny. Our findings provide the low-dimensional analog of DQCP where unbiased numerical results are in perfect agreement with the controlled field theoretical predictions and have extended the realm of the unconventional phase transition as well as its identification with the advanced numerical methodology.

Dynamics of compact quantum electrodynamics at large fermion flavor

Thanks to the development in quantum Monte Carlo technique, the compact U(1) lattice gauge theory coupled to fermionic matter at (2+1)D is now accessible with large-scale numerical simulations, and the ground state phase diagram as a function of fermion flavor ($N_f$) and the strength of gauge fluctuations is mapped out~\cite{Xiao2018Monte}. Here we focus on the large fermion flavor case ($N_f=8$) to investigate the dynamic properties across the deconfinement-to-confinement phase transition. In the deconfined phase, fermions coupled to the fluctuating gauge field to form U(1) spin liquid with continua in both spin and dimer spectral functions, and in the confined phase fermions are gapped out into valence bond solid phase with translational symmetry breaking and gapped spectra. The dynamical behaviors provide supporting evidence for the existence of the U(1) deconfined phase and could shine light on the nature of the U(1)-to-VBS phase transition which is of the QED$_3$-Gross-Neveu chiral O(2) universality whose properties still largely unknown.

Three-body constrained bosons in a double-well optical lattice

We analyse the ground-state properties of three-body constrained bosons in a one dimensional optical lattice with staggered hoppings analogous to the double well optical lattice. By considering attractive and repulsive on-site interactions between the bosons, we obtain the phase diagram which exhibits various quantum phases. Due to the double-well geometry and three-body constraint several gapped phases such as the Mott insulators and dimer/bond-order phases emerge at commensurate densities in the repulsive interaction regime. Attractive interaction leads to the pair formation which leads to the pair bond order phase at unit filling which resembles the valence-bond solid phase of composite bosonic pairs. At incommensurate densities we see the signatures of the gapless pair superfluid phase.

Ising ferromagnet to valence bond solid transition in a one-dimensional spin chain: Analogies to deconfined quantum critical points

We study a one-dimensional (1d) system that shows many analogies to proposed two-dimensional (2d) deconfined quantum critical points (DQCP). Our system is a translationally invariant spin-1/2 chain with on-site $Z_2 \times Z_2$ symmetry and time reversal symmetry. It undergoes a direct continuous transition from a ferromagnet (FM), where one of the $Z_2$ symmetries and the time reversal are broken, to a valence bond solid (VBS), where all on-site symmetries are restored while the translation symmetry is broken. The other $Z_2$ symmetry remains unbroken throughout, but its presence is crucial for both the direct transition (via specific Berry phase effect on topological defects, also related to a Lieb-Schultz-Mattis-like theorem) and the precise characterization of the VBS phase (which has crystalline-SPT-like property). The transition has a description in terms of either two domain wall species that "fractionalize" the VBS order parameter or in terms of partons that "fractionalize" the FM order parameter, with each picture having its own $Z_2$ gauge structure. The two descriptions are dual to each other and, at long wavelengths, take the form of a self-dual \emph{gauged} Ashkin-Teller model, reminiscent of the self-dual easy-plane non-compact CP$^1$ model that arises in the description of the 2d easy-plane DQCP. We also find an exact reformulation of the transition that leads to a simple field theory description that explicitly unifies the FM and VBS order parameters; this reformulation can be interpreted as a new parton approach that does not attempt to fractionalize either of the two order parameters but instead encodes them in instantons. Besides providing explicit realizations of many ideas proposed in the context of the 2d DQCP, here in the simpler and fully tractable 1d setting with continuous transition, our study also suggests possible new line of approach to the 2d DQCP.