Infinite randomness and quantum Griffiths effects in a classical system: the randomly layered Heisenberg magnet

Abstract

We investigate the phase transition in a three-dimensional classical Heisenberg magnet with planar defects, i.e., disorder perfectly correlated in two dimensions. By applying a strong-disorder renormalization group, we show that the critical point has exotic infinite-randomness character. It is accompanied by strong power-law Griffiths singularities. We compute various thermodynamic observables paying particular attention to finite-size effects relevant for an experimental verification of our theory. We also study the critical dynamics within a Langevin equation approach and find it extremely slow. At the critical point, the autocorrelation function decays only logarithmically with time while it follows a nonuniversal power-law in the Griffiths phase.

10 pages, 2 eps figures included, final version as published.