Variety of order-by-disorder phases in the asymmetric $J_1-J_2$ zigzag ladder: From the delta chain to the $J_1-J_2$ chain

Abstract: We study an asymmetric $J_1$-$J_2$ zigzag ladder consisting of two different spin-$\frac{1}{2}$ antiferromagnetic (AFM; $J_2$, $\gamma J_2>0$) Heisenberg legs coupled by zigzag-shaped ferromagnetic (FM; $J_1<0$) inter-leg interaction. On the basis of density-matrix renormalization group based calculations the ground-state phase diagram is obtained as functions of $\gamma$ and $J_2/|J_1|$. It contains four kinds of frustration-induced ordered phases except a trivial FM phase. Two of the ordered phases are valence bond solid (VBS) with spin-singlet dimerization, which is a rather conventional order by disorder. Still, it is interesting to note that the VBS states possess an Affleck-Kennedy-Lieb-Tasaki-type topological hidden order. The remaining two phases are ferrimagnetic orders, each of which is distinguished by commensurate or incommensurate spin-spin correlation. It is striking that the ferrimagnetic orders are not associated with geometrical symmetry breaking; instead, the global spin-rotation symmetry is broken. In other words, the system lowers its energy via the FM inter-leg interaction by polarizing both of the AFM Heisenberg legs. This is a rare type of order by disorder. Besides, the incommensurate ferrimagnetic state appears as a consequence of the competition between a polarization and a critical Tomonaga-Luttinger-liquid behavior in the AFM Heisenberg legs.