Lattice pseudospin model for ν=1 quantum Hall bilayers -: art. no. 115320

We present a theoretical approach to the study of a nu=1 quantum Hall bilayer that is based on a systematic mapping of the microscopic Hamiltonian to an anisotropic SU(4) spin model on a lattice. To study the properties of this model we generalize the Heisenberg model Schwinger boson mean-field theory of Arovas and Auerbach to spin models with anisotropy. We calculate the temperature dependence of experimentally observable quantities, including the spin magnetization and the differential interlayer capacitance. Our theory represents a substantial improvement over the conventional Hartree-Fock picture which neglects quantum and thermal fluctuations, and has advantages over long-wavelength effective models that fail to capture important microscopic physics at all realistic layer separations. The formalism we develop can be generalized to treat quantum Hall bilayers at a filling factor nu=2.