Proof of rounding by quenched disorder of first order transitions in low-dimensional quantum systems (Q2861724)

The paper is devoted to the detailed derivation of results announced by \textit{R. L.~Greenblatt, M.~Aizenman} and \textit{J. L.~Lebowitz} [``Rounding of first order transitions in low-dimensional quantum systems with quenched disorder'', Phys. Rev. Lett. 103, 197201 (2009)], for quantum lattice systems in dimension \(d\leq 2\), the addition of quenched disorder rounds for any first-order phase transition in the corresponding conjugate-order parameter, both at positive temperatures and at \(T=0\). For systems with continuous symmetry, the statement extends up to dimension \(d\leq 4\). This fact shows the existence of the Imry-Ma phenomenon [\textit{Y. Imry} and \textit{S.-K. Ma}, ``Random-field instability of the ordered state of continuous symmetry'', Phys. Rev. Lett. 35, 1399 (1975)] for quantum systems, which was proved by \textit{J. Wehr} and \textit{M. Aizenman} [J. Stat. Phys. 60, No. 3--4, 287--306 (1990; Zbl 0718.60129)] for classical systems. Quenched disorder is known to have a pronounced rounding effect on phase transitions in low-dimensional systems. Rigorous results have established the conditions for rounding effects in classical systems in a series of works in the 1980s (cf. references in the paper). For quantum systems it remained uncertain. In this work, the authors apply a modified argument used by \textit{M. Aizenman} and \textit{J. Wehr} [Commun. Math. Phys. 130, No. 3, 489--528 (1990; Zbl 0714.60090)] which enables to extend the classical results to quantum systems. The results apply, for example, to the transverse-field Ising model, and to the model of an isotropic random-field Heisenberg ferromagnet.