Fate of the one-dimensional Ising quantum critical point coupled to a gapless boson

Abstract

The problem of a quantum Ising degree of freedom coupled to a gapless bosonic mode appears naturally in many one-dimensional systems, yet surprisingly little is known how such a coupling affects the Ising quantum critical point. We investigate the fate of the critical point in a regime, where the weak coupling renormalization group (RG) indicates a flow toward strong coupling. Using a renormalization group analysis and numerical density matrix renormalization group (DMRG) calculations we show that, depending on the ratio of velocities of the gapless bosonic mode and the Ising critical fluctuations, the transition may remain continuous or become fluctuation-driven first order. The two regimes are separated by a tricritical point of a novel type.