Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Log inSign up
Challenges
Datasets
Workspaces
Papers
Discussions
Leaderboard
Blog
Job Board
Q3AS

© 2026 Aqora Quantum S.A.S.

TermsPrivacyLegal Notice

arXiv:1210.5401

The continuum limit of a tensor network: a path integral representation

Christoph Brockt, Jutho Haegeman, Jennings, David, Tobias J. Osborne, Frank Verstraete

Published Oct 19, 2012• 4 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

We argue that the natural way to generalise a tensor network variational class to a continuous quantum system is to use the Feynman path integral to implement a continuous tensor contraction. This approach is illustrated for the case of a recently introduced class of quantum field states known as continuous matrix-product states (cMPS). As an example of the utility of the path-integral representation we argue that the state of a dynamically evolving quantum field admits a natural representation as a cMPS. An argument that all states in Fock space admit a cMPS representation when the number of variational parameters tends to infinity is also provided.

DOI
10.48550/arxiv.1210.5401

Related papers

Continuum tensor network field states, path integral representations and spatial symmetries

David Jennings, Christoph Brockt, Jutho Haegeman +2 more

A natural way to generalize tensor network variational classes to quantum field systems is via a continuous tensor contraction. This approach is first illustrated for the class of quantum field states known as continuous matrix-product states (cMPS). As a simple example of the path-integral representation we show that the state of a dynamically evolving quantum field admits a natural representation as a cMPS. A completeness argument is also provided that shows that all states in Fock space admit a cMPS representation when the number of variational parameters tends to infinity. Beyond this, we obtain a well-behaved field limit of projected entangled-pair states (PEPS) in two dimensions that provide an abstract class of quantum field states with natural symmetries. We demonstrate how symmetries of the physical field state are encoded within the dynamics of an auxiliary field system of one dimension less. In particular, the imposition of Euclidean symmetries on the physical system requires that the auxiliary system involved in the class' definition must be Lorentz-invariant. The physical field states automatically inherit entropy area laws from the PEPS class, and are fully described by the dissipative dynamics of a lower dimensional virtual field system. Our results lie at the intersection many-body physics, quantum field theory and quantum information theory, and facilitate future exchanges of ideas and insights between these disciplines.

arXiv:1212.3833•New Journal of Physics•Jun 29, 2015•30 citations

Continuous Tensor Network States for Quantum Fields

Antoine Tilloy, J. I. Cirac

We introduce a new class of states for bosonic quantum fields which extend tensor network states to the continuum and generalize continuous matrix product states (cMPS) to spatial dimensions $d\geq 2$. By construction, they are Euclidean invariant, and are genuine continuum limits of discrete tensor network states. Admitting both a functional integral and an operator representation, they share the important properties of their discrete counterparts: expressiveness, invariance under gauge transformations, simple rescaling flow, and compact expressions for the $N$-point functions of local observables. While we discuss mostly the continuous tensor network states extending Projected Entangled Pair States (PEPS), we propose a generalization bearing similarities with the continuum Multi-scale Entanglement Renormalization Ansatz (cMERA).

•May 28, 2019•28 citations

Continuous matrix product operators for quantum fields

Erickson Tjoa, J. Ignacio Cirac

In this work we introduce an ansatz for continuous matrix product operators for quantum field theory. We show that (i) they admit a closed-form expression in terms of finite number of matrix-valued functions without reference to any lattice parameter; (ii) they are obtained as a suitable continuum limit of matrix product operators; (iii) they preserve the entanglement area law directly in the continuum, and in particular they map continuous matrix product states (cMPS) to another cMPS. As an application, we use this ansatz to construct several families of continuous matrix product unitaries beyond quantum cellular automata.

quant-pharXiv:2511.04545•Physical Review Research•Nov 7, 2025•0 citations

Entanglement renormalization of the class of continuous matrix product states

Niloofar Vardian

Continuous tensor networks give a variational ansatz for the ground state of the quantum field theories (QFTs). Notable examples are the continuous matrix product state (cMPS) and the continuous multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (cMERA). While cMPS is just adapted to the nonrelativistic QFTs, only the Gaussian cMERA is well understood, which we cannot use to approximate the ground state of the interacting relativistic QFTs. But, instead, cMERA also corresponds to a real-space renormalization group flow in the context of the wave functions. In this paper, we investigate the backward Gaussian cMERA renormalization group flow of the class of cMPS by putting the standard cMPS at the IR scale. At the UV scale, for the bosonic systems in the thermodynamic limit, we achieve the variational class of states that has been proposed recently, as the relativistic cMPS (RCMPS) is adapted to the relativistic QFTs without requiring one to introduce of any additional IR or UV cutoff. We also extend the RCMPS to fermionic systems and theories on a finite circle.

arXiv:2208.14827•Physical review. D/Physical review. D.•Nov 21, 2023•2 citations

Continuous Tensor Network States for Quantum Fields

Antoine Tilloy, J. I. Cirac

We introduce a new class of states for bosonic quantum fields which extend tensor network states to the continuum and generalize continuous matrix product states to spatial dimensions d ≥ 2. By construction, they are Euclidean invariant and are genuine continuum limits of discrete tensor network states.Admitting both a functional integral and an operator representation, they share the important properties of their discrete counterparts: expressiveness, invariance under gauge transformations, simple rescaling flow, and compact expressions for the N-point functions of local observables.While we discuss mostly the continuous tensor network states extending projected entangled-pair states, we propose a generalization bearing similarities with the continuum multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz.

arXiv:1808.00976•Physical Review X•May 28, 2019•38 citations

Feynman Path Integrals Over Entangled States

Andrew G. Green, C. Hooley, Jonathan Keeling +1 more

The saddle points of a conventional Feynman path integral are not entangled, since they comprise a sequence of classical field configurations. We combine insights from field theory and tensor networks by constructing a Feynman path integral over a sequence of matrix product states. The paths that dominate this path integral include some degree of entanglement. This new feature allows several insights and applications: i. A Ginzburg-Landau description of deconfined phase transitions. ii. The emergence of new classical collective variables in states that are not adiabatically continuous with product states. iii. Features that are captured in product-state field theories by proliferation of instantons are encoded in perturbative fluctuations about entangled saddles. We develop a general formalism for such path integrals and a couple of simple examples to illustrate their utility.

arXiv:1607.01778•Jul 6, 2016•8 citations
We argue that the natural way to generalise a tensor network variational class to a continuous quantum system is to use the Feynman path integral to implement a continuous tensor contraction. This approach is illustrated for the case of a recently introduced class of quantum field states known as continuous matrix-product states (cMPS). As an example of the utility of the path-integral representation we argue that the state of a dynamically evolving quantum field admits a natural representation as a cMPS. An argument that all states in Fock space admit a cMPS representation when the number of variational parameters tends to infinity is also provided.
A natural way to generalize tensor network variational classes to quantum field systems is via a continuous tensor contraction. This approach is first illustrated for the class of quantum field states known as continuous matrix-product states (cMPS). As a simple example of the path-integral representation we show that the state of a dynamically evolving quantum field admits a natural representation as a cMPS. A completeness argument is also provided that shows that all states in Fock space admit a cMPS representation when the number of variational parameters tends to infinity. Beyond this, we obtain a well-behaved field limit of projected entangled-pair states (PEPS) in two dimensions that provide an abstract class of quantum field states with natural symmetries. We demonstrate how symmetries of the physical field state are encoded within the dynamics of an auxiliary field system of one dimension less. In particular, the imposition of Euclidean symmetries on the physical system requires that the auxiliary system involved in the class' definition must be Lorentz-invariant. The physical field states automatically inherit entropy area laws from the PEPS class, and are fully described by the dissipative dynamics of a lower dimensional virtual field system. Our results lie at the intersection many-body physics, quantum field theory and quantum information theory, and facilitate future exchanges of ideas and insights between these disciplines.
We introduce a new class of states for bosonic quantum fields which extend tensor network states to the continuum and generalize continuous matrix product states (cMPS) to spatial dimensions d≥2d\geq 2d≥2. By construction, they are Euclidean invariant, and are genuine continuum limits of discrete tensor network states. Admitting both a functional integral and an operator representation, they share the important properties of their discrete counterparts: expressiveness, invariance under gauge transformations, simple rescaling flow, and compact expressions for the NNN-point functions of local observables. While we discuss mostly the continuous tensor network states extending Projected Entangled Pair States (PEPS), we propose a generalization bearing similarities with the continuum Multi-scale Entanglement Renormalization Ansatz (cMERA).
In this work we introduce an ansatz for continuous matrix product operators for quantum field theory. We show that (i) they admit a closed-form expression in terms of finite number of matrix-valued functions without reference to any lattice parameter; (ii) they are obtained as a suitable continuum limit of matrix product operators; (iii) they preserve the entanglement area law directly in the continuum, and in particular they map continuous matrix product states (cMPS) to another cMPS. As an application, we use this ansatz to construct several families of continuous matrix product unitaries beyond quantum cellular automata.
Continuous tensor networks give a variational ansatz for the ground state of the quantum field theories (QFTs). Notable examples are the continuous matrix product state (cMPS) and the continuous multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz (cMERA). While cMPS is just adapted to the nonrelativistic QFTs, only the Gaussian cMERA is well understood, which we cannot use to approximate the ground state of the interacting relativistic QFTs. But, instead, cMERA also corresponds to a real-space renormalization group flow in the context of the wave functions. In this paper, we investigate the backward Gaussian cMERA renormalization group flow of the class of cMPS by putting the standard cMPS at the IR scale. At the UV scale, for the bosonic systems in the thermodynamic limit, we achieve the variational class of states that has been proposed recently, as the relativistic cMPS (RCMPS) is adapted to the relativistic QFTs without requiring one to introduce of any additional IR or UV cutoff. We also extend the RCMPS to fermionic systems and theories on a finite circle.
We introduce a new class of states for bosonic quantum fields which extend tensor network states to the continuum and generalize continuous matrix product states to spatial dimensions d ≥ 2. By construction, they are Euclidean invariant and are genuine continuum limits of discrete tensor network states.Admitting both a functional integral and an operator representation, they share the important properties of their discrete counterparts: expressiveness, invariance under gauge transformations, simple rescaling flow, and compact expressions for the N-point functions of local observables.While we discuss mostly the continuous tensor network states extending projected entangled-pair states, we propose a generalization bearing similarities with the continuum multiscale entanglement renormalization ansatz.
The saddle points of a conventional Feynman path integral are not entangled, since they comprise a sequence of classical field configurations. We combine insights from field theory and tensor networks by constructing a Feynman path integral over a sequence of matrix product states. The paths that dominate this path integral include some degree of entanglement. This new feature allows several insights and applications: i. A Ginzburg-Landau description of deconfined phase transitions. ii. The emergence of new classical collective variables in states that are not adiabatically continuous with product states. iii. Features that are captured in product-state field theories by proliferation of instantons are encoded in perturbative fluctuations about entangled saddles. We develop a general formalism for such path integrals and a couple of simple examples to illustrate their utility.