Magnetism arising from coupled spin and spatial degrees of freedom underlies the properties of a broad array of physical systems. We study here the interplay between correlations in spin and space for the quantum compass model in a finite external fi
eld, using quantum Monte Carlo methods. We find that finite temperatures cant the spin and space (bond) correlations, with increasing temperature even reorienting spin correlations between orthogonal spatial directions. We develop a coupled mean field theory to understand this effect in terms of the underlying quantum critical properties of crossed Ising chains in transverse fields and an effective field that weakens upon increasing temperature. Thermal canting offers an experimental signature of spin-bond anisotropy.
We calculate the electronic width of quantum wires as a function of their lithographic width in analogy to experiments performed on nanostructures defined by local oxidation of Ga[Al]As heterostructures. Two--dimensional simulations of two parallel o
xide lines on top of a Ga[Al]As heterostructure defining a quantum wire are carried out in the framework of Density Functional Theory in the Local Density Approximation and are found to be in agreement with measurements. Quantitative assessment of the influence of various experimental uncertainties is given. The most influential parameter turns out to be the oxide line depth, followed by its exact shape and the effect of background doping (in decreasing order).
