Universal behavior at weak first order quantum phase transitions

• Published in: Physica. B, Condensed matter Vol. 378; pp. 129 - 130
• Main Authors: Continentino, Mucio A., Ferreira, Andre S.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Amsterdam Elsevier B.V 01-05-2006; Elsevier
• Subjects: Condensed matter: electronic structure, electrical, magnetic, and optical properties; Exact sciences and technology; Heavy-fermion superconductors; Magnetic properties and materials; Magnetically ordered materials: other intrinsic properties; Physics; Quantum critical point; Quantum first order transition; Superconducting materials (excluding high-tc compounds); Superconductivity; Valence fluctuation, kondo lattice, and heavy-fermion phenomena; 71.55.Ak; Quantum critical point; 71.20.Nr; Quantum first order transition; 71.30.+h; Superconductivity; Non Fermi liquid; Quantum phase transition; Magnetic ordering; 71.55.Ak Quantum critical point; Heavy fermions; Order parameters; Magnetic transitions; Soft modes; Quantum first order transitiol
• ISSN: 0921-4526; 1873-2135
• DOI: 10.1016/j.physb.2006.01.332

First order quantum phase transitions besides their general interest are clearly relevant to the study of heavy fermions and magnetic transition metal compounds. Recent results show that in many systems belonging to these classes of materials, the magnetic transition changes from second order to first order as the quantum critical point (QCP) is approached. We are interested here in the case the change in the nature of the
T
=
0
transition is due to a coupling of the order parameter to soft modes or to the competition between different types of order near the QCP. For these
weak first order quantum phase transitions general results are obtained. In particular, we describe the thermodynamic behavior when this transition is approached from finite temperatures. This is the discontinuous equivalent of the non-Fermi liquid trajectory close to a conventional QCP, for example, in heavy fermion systems.