An integrable quantum spin ladder based on the SU(4) symmetry algebra with boundary defects is studied in the framework of boundary integrability. Five nontrivial solutions of the reflection equations lead to different boundary impurities. In each case the energy spectrum is determined using the quantum inverse scattering method. The thermodynamic properties are investigated by means of the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz. In particular, the susceptibility and the magnetization of the model in the vicinity of the critical points are derived along with differing magnetic properites for antiferromagnetic and ferromagnetic impurity couplings at the edges. The results are applicable to the strong coupling ladder compounds, such as Cu_2(C_5 H_12 N_2)_2 Cl_4.
@article{arxiv.cond-mat/0305196,
title = {Thermodynamic properties of an integrable quantum spin ladder with boundary impurities},
author = {M. T. Batchelor and X. -W. Guan and A. Foerster and A. P. Tonel and H. -Q. Zhou},
journal= {arXiv preprint arXiv:cond-mat/0305196},
year = {2009}
}