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Unlike their classical counterparts, quantum antiferromagnetic systems exhibit ground state frustration effects even in one dimension.Ìý A case in point is the SU(2S+1) invariant spin chain, with the interaction between pairs of neighboring S-spins given by a one dimensional projection on the pair’s total spin zero state.ÌýWe show that in the infinite volume limit for any S>1/2 the system has a pair of distinct ground states, each gapped and exhibiting spatial energy oscillations.ÌýTheÌý analysis utilizes a stochastic geometric representation of the system’s thermal states, which allows to apply to this quantum system methods which were originally developed in the context of theÌý classical Q-state Potts model.

Talk based on a joint work with Hugo Dumnil-Copin.