2005/02/21 by A. K. Kolezhuk, Alexei Kolezhuk, Temo Vekua
Physics and Astronomy · #Advanced Condensed Matter Physics #Physics of Superconductivity and Magnetism #Theoretical and Computational Physics #cond-mat.other #cond-mat.str-el
paper · pdf · doi:10.1103/physrevb.72.094424
published as Phys. Rev. B 72, 094424 (2005) · 4 revtex pages
arxiv created 2005/02/21 · openalex publication_date 2005/09/20 · arxiv updated 2009/12/01 · openalex created_date 2025/10/10 · openalex updated_date 2026/07/28
It is argued that an external magnetic field applied to an isotropic zigzag spin chain with an arbitrary spin S and antiferromagnetic nearest-neighbor and next-nearest-neighbor exchange couplings J1 and J2 induces a phase with spontaneously broken parity, characterized by long-range ordering of vector chirality. To show that, we use a bosonization approach for S=(1)/(2) and S=1, valid in the limit of a weak zigzag interaction J1∕J2⪡1, as well as an effective large-S theory applicable in the vicinity of the saturation field. Relevance to real materials and the possibility of experimental observation of the chiral phase are discussed.