Pathology of Schwinger boson mean-field theory for Heisenberg spin models
Theja N. De Silva, Michael Ma, Fu Chun Zhang
2002
Physical Review B (Condensed Matter)
We have re-analyze the Schwinger boson mean field theory (SBMFT) for Heisenberg spin models on the cubic lattice. We find that the second order phase transition point for magnetic ordering previously reported corresponds to a local maximum of the free energy functional. For both ferromagnetic and antiferromagnetic Heisenberg models with spin S ≥ S_C, where S_C < 1/2, the mean field transitions are first order from the magnetically long-ranged ordered phase to the completely uncorrelated phase.
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... n addition to erroneously giving a first order transition for magnetic ordering, the mean field theory does not include a phase with finite short-range correlation, thus negating one of the prime advantages of SBMFT. The relevance of these pathologies to other situations beyond the cubic lattice is discussed.
doi:10.1103/physrevb.66.104417
fatcat:fp5c5ouvjzhzdftro6rjvryj3a