Magnetic phase separation in a frustrated ferrimagnetic chain under a magnetic field

Abstract

We use density matrix renormalization group to study the first-order quantum phase transition induced by a magnetic field $h$ in a frustrated ferrimagnetic chain. The magnetization ($m$) curve as a function of $h$ presents a macroscopic jump and the energy curve as a function of $m$ has two global minima. We characterize the two competing phases and study the phase-separated states in the coexistence region. Also, we observe that the transition is accompanied by an increase in the number of itinerant singlet pairs between sites in the unit cells of the chain. Finally, we identify the critical point at the end of the first-order transition line and a crossover line.