Numerical study of magnetic field induced ordering in BaCuSi$_2$O$_6$ and related systems

Abstract

Thermodynamics of spin dimer system BaCuSi_2O_6 is studied using a quantum Monte Carlo calculation (QMC) and a bond-operator mean field theory. We propose that a new type of boson, which, rather than being hard-core, allows up to two occupancy at each site, is responsible for the Bose Einstein condensation of field induced ordering. Its superfluid density is identified as the square of the in-plane staggered magnetization m_{xy} in the ordered phase. We also compare our QMC result of the spin Heisenberg model to those predicted by mean field theory as well as by the simple hard core boson model for both large and small intra-dimer coupling J. The asymmetry of the phase diagram of m_{xy}(h) of small coupling J in related systems such as NiCl_2-4SC(NH_2)_2 is explained with our new boson operator.