Quantum criticality from Ising model on fractal lattices

Abstract

We study the quantum Ising model on the Sierpi\'{n}ski triangle, whose Hausdorff dimension is $\log 3/ \log 2 \approx 1.585$, and demonstrate that it undergoes second-order phase transition with scaling relations satisfied precisely. We also study the quantum $3$-state Potts model on the Sierpi\'{n}ski triangle and find first-order phase transition, which is consistent with a prediction from $\epsilon$-expansion that the transition becomes first-order for $D > 1.3$. We then compute critical exponents of the Ising model on higher-dimensional Sierpi\'{n}ski pyramids with various Hausdorff dimension via Monte-Carlo simulations and real-space RG analysis for $D\in[1,3]$. We find that only the correlation length exponent $\nu$ interpolates the values of integer-dimensional models. This implies that, contrary to a generally held belief, the universality class of quantum phase transition may not be uniquely determined by symmetry and spatial dimension of the system. This work initiates studies on quantum critical phenomena on graphs and networks which may be of significant importance in the context of quantum networks and communication.