Date Available

7-2-2017

Year of Publication

2017

Document Type

Doctoral Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

College

Arts and Sciences

Department/School/Program

Physics and Astronomy

Advisor

Dr. Ribhu K. Kaul

Abstract

In this thesis I will outline various quantum phase transitions in 2D models of magnets that are amenable to simulation with quantum Monte Carlo techniques. The key player in this work is the theory of deconfined criticality, which generically allows for zero temperature quantum phase transitions between phases that break distinct global symmetries. I will describe models with different symmetries including SU(N), SO(N), and "easy-plane" SU(N) and I will demonstrate how the presence or absence of continuous transitions in these models fits together with the theory of deconfined criticality.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

https://doi.org/10.13023/ETD.2017.420

Share

COinS