Fluctuation-driven first order behavior near the T=0 two dimensional stripe to fermi liquid transition

Abstract

The possibility is investigated that competition between fluctuations at different symmetry-related ordering wave vectors may affect the quantum phase transition between a fermi liquid and a longitudinal spin density wave state, in particular giving rise to an intermediate 'nematic' state with broken rotational symmetry but unbroken translational symmetry. At the marginal dimension the nematic transition is found to be preempted by a first order transition but a weak symmetry breaking field restores a second order magnetic transition with an intermediate regime in which correlations substantially enhance the broken rotational symmetry. Comparison to recent experiments is made.