Umbrella-coplanar transition in the triangular XXZ model with arbitrary spin

Abstract

The quantum triangular XXZ model has recently enjoyed a wealth of new theoretical results, especially in relation to the modeling of the Ba$_3$CoSb$_2$O$_9$ compound. In particular, it has been understood that in a longitudinal magnetic field the umbrella (cone) phase, classically stable in all the easy-plane region of the ground-state phase diagram, is considerably reduced by the effect of quantum fluctuations. We provide more quantitative information for this phenomenon at arbitrary value of the site spin $S$, by employing the dilute Bose gas expansion, valid in the high-field regime; our results improve the available estimates of the $1/S$ expansion. We quantify the extent to which a higher spin suppresses the effect of quantum fluctuations. Besides, we show how in three-dimensional layered systems a relatively small antiferromagnetic interlayer coupling has a similar consequence of bringing back the umbrella phase in some part of the phase diagram.