Quantum theory of one- and two-dimensional ferro- and antiferromagnets with an easy magnetization plane . I. ideal 1-d or 2-d lattices without in-plane anisotropy

Abstract

A « semi-polar » representation of the spin operators is introduced, which makes possible, in the harmonic approximation, the definition of magnons for any wavelength at low temperature in one-dimensional (= 1-D) or two-dimensional (= 2-D) magnetic systems without long-range order, provided they are of the « planar » type, i. e. they have an easy magnetization plane. The semi-polar representation is used to calculate the spin pair correlation function at low temperature. Its space-time Fourier transform (directly observable by neutron scattering) consists of a relatively broad peak due to spin fluctuations inside the easy plane, plus a narrower peak due to out-of-plane fluctuations. The intensity, width and lineshape of both peaks are calculated in both 1-D and 2-D cases for all momentum transfers, as well as the frequency shift as a function of temperature