Quantum description of spherical spins

Abstract

The spherical model for spins describes ferromagnetic phase transitions well, but it fails at low temperatures. A quantum version of the spherical model is proposed. It does not induce qualitative changes near the phase transition. However, it produces a physical low temperature behavior. The entropy is non-negative. Model parameters can be adapted to the description of real quantum spins. Several applications are discussed. Zero-temperature quantum phase transitions are analyzed for a ferromagnet and a spin glass in a transversal field. Their crossover exponents are presented.

4 pages postscript. Revised version, to appear in Phys. Rev. Lett