296 Ch.

6 Heisenberg Magnets

lead to

2ll2 -
AS (T) - AS(0) M - 1‘ y *
1
eJzsk/keT - 1 c( T 2 . (6.98)

The temperature dependence of the order parameter follows a T2-law.

In 0 = 2, the integral

(6.99)

picks up a divergent contribution from the vicinity of k = 0, signalling

that Nkel-type order cannot survive at finite temperatures. This a fur-
ther illustration of the Mermin-Wagner theorem. At any finite T,corre-
lations are isotropic, and fall off exponentially with increasing distance.
Asymptotically

(6.100)

where E is the correlation length, T = lj - ml, (-l)llrll symbolizes the

alternating character of correlations, and c1 is a constant of O(1) [260].
However, in the limit T -+ 0 we approach a state with long range order,
and this shows up in the exponential divergency of the correlation length

(6.101)

where ps is an S-dependent factor. For the square lattice S = 1/2

antiferromagnet p s = 0.1757.
Strong intra-plane correlations are very much in evidence in layered
cuprates like LazCu04 [260]. A correlation length of at least 20nm has
been detected by neutrons in a state without 3 0 order. The develop-
ment of extensive quasi-ordered regions within the paramagnetic phase

J’ -
makes it understandable that an extremely weak interlayer coupling
J can stabilize three-dimensional antiferromagnetic order at
relatively high temperatures.
Before closing this subsection, let us mention that according to spin
wave theory, the T = 0 transverse susceptibility is reduced from its