Quantum Antiferromagnet at Finite Temperature: A Gauge Field Approach

Abstract

Starting from the $CP^{N-1}$ model description of the thermally disordred phase of the $D=2$ quantum antiferromagnet, we examine the interaction of the Schwinger-boson spin-1/2 mean-field excitations with the generated gauge (chirality) fluctuations in the framework of the 1/N expansion. This interaction dramatically supresses the one-particle motion, but enhances the staggered static susceptibility. This means that actual excitations in the system are represented by the collective spin-1 excitations, whereas one-particle excitations disappear from the problem. We also show that massive fluctuations of the constraint field are significant for the susceptibility calculations. A connection with the problem of a particle in random magnetic field is discussed.