Resonating plaquette phase of a quantum six-vertex model.
The simplest quantum generalization of the six-vertex model describes fluctuations of the order parameter of the d-density wave (DDW), believed to compete with superconductivity in the high-T(c) superconductors. The ground state of this model undergoes a first order transition from the DDW phase to a resonating plaquette phase as the quantum fluctuations are increased, which is explored with the help of quantum Monte Carlo simulations and analytic considerations involving the n-vector (n = 2) model with cubic anisotropy. In addition to finding a new quantum state, we show that the DDW is robust against a class of quantum fluctuations of its order parameter. The inferred finite temperature phase diagram contains unsuspected multicritical points.
Syljuåsen
Olav F
OF
NORDITA, Blegdamsvej 17, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
Chakravarty
Sudip
S