Homework 3

Daniel Ish
Due: February 24th, 5pm

Problem 1: On this homework, we will explore a generalization of the concepts discussed in class. In class, we
discussed a transition between a ferromagnet and a paramagnet that occured at finite temperature. It is also
possible to have phase transitions which occur at zero temperature as a function of some other parameter in
the system. To model this, let us consider the Quantum Ising Model :
X X
Ĥ = J Ŝiz Ŝjz − h Ŝix (1)
hi,ji i

with J > 0 and h > 0. Here again we expect a ferromagnetic phase and a paramagnetic phase.
(a): What
D Esymmetry of the Hamiltonian would be broken in a ferromagnetically ordered phase
where Ŝ z 6= 0?
i
(b): Repeat the mean field theory analysis we performed in class on the Quantum Ising Model. This
time, use the class of trial Hamiltonians
X X
Ĥt (φ) = −φ Ŝiz − h Ŝix (2)
i i

Does your trial free energy respect the symmetry from part (a)? For what values of J, T and h does
mean field theory predict that this model is a ferromagnet? (I.e. for what values does the minimum
of the trial free energy occur at φ 6= 0?)
(c): Expand in small φ and show that the transition is second order everywhere. What is the
behavior of φ near the transition?