Ground-State Phases of Alternating-Bond S = 1 Diamond Chains

Abstract: The ground-state phases of alternating-bond spin-1 diamond chains are investigated. Each ground state consists of an array of spin clusters separated by singlet dimers owing to an infinite number of local conservation laws. If no singlet dimers are present, the ground state is equivalent to that of a spin chain with infinite length.For strong frustration, we find a series of quantum phase transitions as in the case of alternating-bond mixed diamond chains with spins 1 and 1/2. For intermediate frustration, we find the nonmagnetic Haldane or dimer phases according to whether the bond alternation is weak or strong. For weak frustration and weak bond alternation, we find the ferrimagnetic states with spontaneous magnetizations $m=1/6$ and 1/3 per site. The ferrimagnetic state with $m=1/6$ is accompanied by a spontaneous translational symmetry breakdown. This phase vanishes for strong bond alternation.