Tunable rotons in square lattice antiferromagnets under strong magnetic fields

Abstract

Excitation spectra of square lattice Heisenberg antiferromagnets in magnetic fields are investigated by the spin-wave theory. It is pointed out that a rotonlike structure appears in a narrow range of magnetic fields, as a result of strong nonlinear effects. It is shown that the energy gap and the mass of the "roton" are quite sensitive to the magnetic field: the roton gap softens rapidly and eventually closes as a precursor of a quantum phase transition. The possibility of the experimental observation of the roton and a new ground state after its softening are discussed.