Critical behaviour of the simple anisotropic Heisenberg model

Abstract

The system described by the Hamiltonian shown is investigated on the basis of exact high-temperature series expansions and the Green function technique. Expansions for the zero-field (B = 0) free energy and susceptibility (valid for arbitrary lattice structure) are developed to fifth order in reciprocal temperature for the S = ½ system with nearest-neighbour forces. The critical behaviour is discussed in two and three dimensions using the random phase approximation and Padé approximants. In particular the variation of the critical temperature with η is accurately determined for common two- and three-dimensional lattices. It is conjectured that the susceptibility index γ remains constant for 0 ⩽ η < 1 but changes discontinuously at η = 1.