Semi-classical quantisation of magnetic solitons in the anisotropic Heisenberg quantum chain

Abstract

Using the algebro-geometric approach, we study the structure of semi-classical eigenstates in a weakly-anisotropic quantum Heisenberg spin chain. We outline how classical nonlinear spin waves governed by the anisotropic Landau-Lifshitz equation arise as coherent macroscopic low-energy fluctuations of the ferromagnetic grounds state. Special emphasis is devoted to the simplest types of solutions, describing precessional motion and elliptic magnetisation waves. To resolve their internal magnon structure, we carry out the semi-classical quantisation of classical spin waves using the Riemann-Hilbert problem approach. We describe overlaps of semi-classical eigenstates employing functional methods and correlation functions of these states with aid of classical phase-space averaging.