Spin-1 Bose-Hubbard model with two- and three-body interactions

Abstract

We investigated the ground state of spin-1 bosons interacting under local two- and three-body interactions in one dimension by means of the density matrix renormalization group method. We found that the even-odd asymmetry will be obtained or not depending on the relative values of the two- and three-body interactions. The Mott insulator lobes are spin isotropic, the first showing a dimerized pattern and the second being composed of singlets. The three-body interactions disfavor a longitudinal polar superfluid and a quantum phase transition to a transverse polar superfluid occurs, which could be continuous or discontinuous.