Single-ion anisotropy in Haldane chains and form factor of the O(3) nonlinear sigma model

Abstract

We consider spin-1 Haldane chains with single-ion anisotropy, which exists in known Haldane chain materials. We develop a perturbation theory in terms of anisotropy, where magnon-magnon interaction is important even in the low temperature limit. The exact two-particle form factor in the O(3) nonlinear sigma model leads to quantitative predictions on several dynamical properties including dynamical structure factor and electron spin resonance frequency shift. These agree very well with numerical results, and with experimental data on the Haldane chain material Ni(C$_5$H$_{14}$N$_2$)$_2$N$_3$(PF$_6$).