Learn about the Heisenberg model, a quantum mechanical model used to describe the behavior of magnetic moments in a solid. Applications and extensions included.

Heisenberg Model in Quantum Mechanics

Quantum mechanics is a fundamental theory in physics that describes the behavior of matter and energy at the atomic and subatomic scale. One of the most famous and important models in quantum mechanics is the Heisenberg model. This model was introduced by Werner Heisenberg in 1928 and is used to describe the behavior of interacting magnetic moments in a solid.

The Basics of the Heisenberg Model

The Heisenberg model is a quantum mechanical model that describes the behavior of magnetic moments in a solid. It is based on the concept of spin, which is a quantum mechanical property of particles that describes their intrinsic angular momentum. In the Heisenberg model, the spins are assumed to be located on the vertices of a lattice and interact with each other through exchange interactions.

The Heisenberg Hamiltonian is the mathematical expression that describes the energy of the Heisenberg model. It is given by:

H = -J ∑_i,j S_i · S_j

Here, J is the exchange interaction energy between the spins, S_i and S_j are the spin operators at sites i and j, and the summation is taken over all pairs of neighboring spins.

The Heisenberg model can be solved exactly in one and two dimensions, but becomes increasingly difficult in higher dimensions. In one dimension, the ground state of the Heisenberg model is a simple product state with all spins aligned, while in two dimensions the ground state exhibits long-range order and is known as a Neel state.

Applications of the Heisenberg Model

The Heisenberg model has many applications in condensed matter physics, including the study of magnetism, superconductivity, and the behavior of materials at low temperatures. It is particularly useful for studying magnetic materials, such as iron, nickel, and cobalt.

One important application of the Heisenberg model is in the study of spin waves. Spin waves are collective excitations of the magnetic moments in a solid and are analogous to sound waves in a material. The Heisenberg model can be used to calculate the dispersion relation of spin waves, which describes how the energy and momentum of the spin waves are related.

The Heisenberg model is also used to study quantum phase transitions, which are phase transitions that occur at zero temperature due to quantum fluctuations. In particular, the Heisenberg model on a triangular lattice exhibits a quantum phase transition between a Neel state and a disordered state.

In summary, the Heisenberg model is a powerful tool in the study of magnetic materials and has many important applications in condensed matter physics. Its development marked a significant milestone in the development of quantum mechanics and our understanding of the behavior of matter at the atomic and subatomic scale.

Extensions of the Heisenberg Model

While the original Heisenberg model describes the behavior of classical spins, extensions to the model have been developed to account for additional physical effects. One such extension is the inclusion of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya interactions, which describe antisymmetric exchange interactions that arise due to spin-orbit coupling. These interactions play an important role in the behavior of certain magnetic materials, such as thin films and multilayers.

Another extension is the inclusion of an external magnetic field. This modification to the Heisenberg Hamiltonian introduces a Zeeman term, which describes the interaction between the magnetic moments and the external field. The resulting behavior of the system can be quite complex, and is the subject of ongoing research in condensed matter physics.

Conclusion

The Heisenberg model is a fundamental model in quantum mechanics that describes the behavior of interacting magnetic moments in a solid. Its development marked a significant milestone in our understanding of the behavior of matter at the atomic and subatomic scale, and it continues to be a powerful tool in the study of condensed matter physics. With extensions to the model accounting for additional physical effects, the Heisenberg model remains a topic of ongoing research in the field.