The topic of lattice quantum spin systems is a fascinating and by now
well-established branch of theoretical physics. However, many important
questions remain to be answered. Their intrinsically quantum mechanical
nature and the large (usually effectively infinite) number of spins in
macroscopic materials often leads to unexpected or counter-intuitive
results and insights. Spin systems are not only the basic models for a
whole host of magnetic materials but they are also important as prototypical
models of quantum systems. Low dimensional systems (as treated in this primer),
in 2D and especially 1D, have been particularly fruitful because their
simplicity has enabled exact solutions to be determined in many cases.
These exact solutions contain many highly nontrivial features.
This book was inspired by a set of lectures on quantum spin systems and it is
set at a level of practical detail that is missing in other textbooks in the area. It
will guide the reader through the foundations of the field. In particular, the solutions
of the Heisenberg and XY models at zero temperature using the Bethe Ansatz
and the Jordan-Wigner transformation are covered in some detail. The use of
approximate methods, both theoretical and numerical, to tackle more advanced
topics is considered. The final chapter describes some very recent applications
of approximate methods in order to show some of the directions in which the
study of these systems is currently developing.
Very useful as a self-study guide Provides examples and step by step derivations Goes straight to advanced level teachings Includes supplementary material: sn.pub/extras
John B. Parkinson
Theoretical physics coupled-cluster method quantum magnetism spiin wave theory spin chains and lattices