On the origin of the quantum-critical transition in the bilayer Heisenberg model

Abstract

The bilayer Heisenberg antiferromagnet is known to exhibit a quantum-critical transition at a particular value of the inter-layer coupling. Using a new type of coherent state, appropriate to the special order parameter structure of the bilayer, we map the problem onto the quantum non-linear sigma model. It is found that the bare coupling constant diverges at the classical transition of Chubukov and Morr, so that in any finite dimension the actual transition occurs inside the ordered phase of the classical theory.