We investigate the spin-1/2 Heisenberg model on a rectangular lattice, using the Gutzwiller projected variational wave function known as the staggered flux state. Using Monte Carlo techniques, the variational parameters and static spin-structure factor for different coupling anisotropies $gamma=J_y/J_x$ are calculated. We observe a gradual evolution of the ground state energy towards a value which is very close to the 1D estimate provided by the Bethe ansatz and a good agreement between the finite size scaling of the energies. The spin-spin correlation functions exhibit a power-law decay with varying exponents for different anisotropies. Though the lack of Neel order makes the staggered flux state energetically unfavorable in the symmetric case $gamma=1$, it appears to capture the essence of the system close to 1D. Hence we believe that the staggered flux state provides an interesting starting point to explore the crossover from quantum disordered chains to the Neel ordered 2D square lattices.
Download