Neel order, quantum spin liquids and quantum criticality in two dimensions

Abstract

This paper is concerned with the possibility of a direct second order transition out of a collinear Neel phase to a paramagnetic spin liquid in two dimensional quantum antiferromagnets. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we show that such second order quantum transitions can potentially occur to certain spin liquid states popular in theories of the cuprates. We provide a theory of this transition and study its universal properties in an $\epsilon$ expansion. The existence of such a transition has a number of interesting implications for spin liquid based approaches to the underdoped cuprates. In particular it considerably clarifies existing ideas for incorporating antiferromagnetic long range order into such a spin liquid based approach.