Abstract
We investigate the effects of quenched disorder on first-order quantum phase transitions on the example of the N-color quantum Ashkin-Teller model. By means of a strong-disorder renormalization group, we demonstrate that quenched disorder rounds the first-order quantum phase transition to a continuous one for both weak and strong coupling between the colors. In the strong-coupling case, we find a distinct type of infinite-randomness critical point characterized by additional internal degrees of freedom. We investigate its critical properties in detail and find stronger thermodynamic singularities than in the random transverse field Ising chain. We also discuss the implications for higher spatial dimensions as well as unusual aspects of our renormalization-group scheme.
Recommended Citation
F. Hrahsheh et al., "Rounding of a First-Order Quantum Phase Transition to a Strong-Coupling Critical Point," Physical review B: Condensed matter and materials physics, vol. 86, no. 21, pp. 214204-1 - 214204-5, American Physical Society (APS), Dec 2012.
The definitive version is available at https://doi.org/10.1103/PhysRevB.86.214204
Department(s)
Physics
International Standard Serial Number (ISSN)
1098-0121
Document Type
Article - Journal
Document Version
Final Version
File Type
text
Language(s)
English
Rights
© 2012 American Physical Society (APS), All rights reserved.
Publication Date
01 Dec 2012
