Neutron Scattering Study of Quantum Phase Transitions in Integral Spin Chains

Abstract

Quite a few low-dimensional magnets are quantum-disordered ``spin liquids'' with a characteristic gap in the magnetic excitation spectrum. Among these are antiferromagnetic chains of integer quantum spins. Their generic feature are long-lived massive (gapped) excitations (magnons) that are subject to Zeeman splitting in external magnetic fields. The gap in one of the magnon branches decreases with field, driving a soft-mode quantum phase transition. The system then enters a qualitatively new high-field phase. The actual properties at high fields, particularly the spin dynamics, critically depend on the system under consideration. Recent neutron scattering studies of organometallic polymer crystals NDMAP (Haldane spin chains with anisotropy) and NTENP (dimerized S=1 chains) revealed rich and unique physics.