Multispinon continua at zero and finite temperature in a near-ideal Heisenberg chain

• Published in: Physical review letters Vol. 111; no. 13; p. 137205
• Main Authors: Lake, B, Tennant, D A, Caux, J-S, Barthel, T, Schollwöck, U, Nagler, S E, Frost, C D
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 26.09.2013
• ISSN: 1079-7114
• DOI: 10.1103/physrevlett.111.137205

The space-and time-dependent response of many-body quantum systems is the most informative aspect of their emergent behavior. The dynamical structure factor, experimentally measurable using neutron scattering, can map this response in wave vector and energy with great detail, allowing theories to be quantitatively tested to high accuracy. Here, we present a comparison between neutron scattering measurements on the one-dimensional spin-1/2 Heisenberg antiferromagnet KCuF3, and recent state-of-the-art theoretical methods based on integrability and density matrix renormalization group simulations. The unprecedented quantitative agreement shows that precise descriptions of strongly correlated states at all distance, time, and temperature scales are now possible, and highlights the need to apply these novel techniques to other problems in low-dimensional magnetism.