We present a variational method for approximating the ground state of spin models close to (Richardson-Gaudin) integrability. This is done by variationally optimizing eigenstates of integrable Richardson-Gaudin models, where the toolbox of integrability allows for an efficient evaluation and minimization of the energy functional. The method is shown to return exact results for integrable models and improve substantially on perturbation theory for models close to integrability. For large integrability-breaking interactions, it is shown how (avoided) level crossings necessitate the use of excited states of integrable Hamiltonians in order to accurately describe the ground states of general nonintegrable models.
We present a variational method for approximating the ground state of spin models close to (Richardson-Gaudin) integrability. This is done by variationally optimizing eigenstates of integrable Richardson-Gaudin models, where the toolbox of integrability allows for an efficient evaluation and minimization of the energy functional. The method is shown to return exact results for integrable models and improve substantially on perturbation theory for models close to integrability. For large integrability-breaking interactions, it is shown how (avoided) level crossings necessitate the use of excited states of integrable Hamiltonians in order to accurately describe the ground states of general nonintegrable models.
This thesis presents an introduction to the class of Richardson-Gaudin integrable models, with special focus on the Bethe ansatz wave function, and investigates ways of applying the properties of Richardson-Gaudin models both in and out of integrability. A framework is outlined for the numerical and theoretical treatment of these systems, exposing a duality allowing the Bethe equations to be solved numerically. This is extended to the calculation of inner products and correlation functions. Using this framework, the influence of particle exchange on the Bethe ansatz is discussed, after which it is shown how the Bethe ansatz is able to accurately model wave functions of non-integrable models in two different settings. First, a variational approach is outlined for stationary models where integrability-breaking perturbations are explicitly introduced. Second, an alternative way of breaking integrability is through the introduction of dynamics and periodic driving, where it is shown how integrability can be used to model the resulting Floquet many-body resonances. Throughout this work, it is shown how the clear-cut structure and relatively large freedom in Richardson-Gaudin models makes them ideal for an investigation of the general principles of integrability, as well as being a perfect testing ground for the development of new quantum many-body techniques beyond integrability.
Background: The nuclear many-body system is a strongly correlated quantum system, posing serious challenges for perturbative approaches starting from uncorrelated reference states. The last decade has witnessed considerable progress in the accurate treatment of pairing correlations, one of the major components in medium-sized nuclei, reaching accuracies below the 1% level of the correlation energy. Purpose: Development of a quantum many-body method for pairing correlations that is (a) competitive in the 1% error range, and (b) can be systematically improved with a fast (exponential) convergence rate. Method: The present paper capitalizes upon ideas from Richardson-Gaudin integrability. The proposed method is a two-step approach. The first step consists of the optimization of a Richardson-Gaudin ground state as variational trial state. At the second step, the complete set of excited states on top of this Richardson-Gaudin ground state is used as an optimal basis for a Configuration Interaction method in an increasingly large effective Hilbert space. Results: The performance of the variational Richardson-Gaudin (varRG) and Richardson-Gaudin Configuration Interaction (RGCI) method is benchmarked against exact results using an effective G-matrix interaction for the Sn region. The varRG already reaches accuracies around the 1% level of the correlation energies, and the RGCI step sees an additional improvement scaling exponentially with the size of the effective Hilbert space. Conclusions: The Richardson-Gaudin models of integrability provide an optimized complete basis set for pairing correlations.
We propose an extension of the numerical approach for integrable Richardson-Gaudin models based on a new set of eigenvalue-based variables [A. Faribault et al., Phys. Rev. B 83, 235124 (2011); O. El Araby et al., Phys. Rev. B 85, 115130 (2012)]. Starting solely from the Gaudin algebra, the approach is generalized towards the full class of XXZ Richardson-Gaudin models. This allows for a fast and robust numerical determination of the spectral properties of these models, avoiding the singularities usually arising at the so-called singular points. We also provide different determinant expressions for the normalization of the Bethe ansatz states and form factors of local spin operators, opening up possibilities for the study of larger systems, both integrable and nonintegrable. These expressions can be written in terms of the new set of variables and generalize the results previously obtained for rational Richardson-Gaudin models [A. Faribault and D. Schuricht, J. Phys. A 45, 485202 (2012)] and Dicke-Jaynes-Cummings-Gaudin models [H. Tschirhart and A. Faribault, J. Phys. A 47, 405204 (2014)]. Remarkably, these results are independent of the explicit parametrization of the Gaudin algebra, exposing a universality in the properties of Richardson-Gaudin integrable systems deeply linked to the underlying algebraic structure.
We propose applying the adiabatic algorithm to prepare high-energy eigenstates of integrable models on a quantum computer. We first review the standard adiabatic algorithm to prepare ground states in each magnetization sector of the prototypical XXZ Heisenberg chain. Based on the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, we show that the algorithm circuit depth is polynomial in the number of qubits N , outperforming previous methods explicitly relying on integrability. Next, we propose a protocol to prepare arbitrary eigenstates of integrable models that satisfy certain conditions. For a given target eigenstate, we construct a suitable parent Hamiltonian written in terms of a complete set of local conserved quantities. We propose using such Hamiltonian as an input for an adiabatic algorithm. After benchmarking this construction in the case of the non-interacting XY spin chain, where we can rigorously prove its efficiency, we apply it to prepare arbitrary eigenstates of the Richardson-Gaudin models. In this case, we provide numerical evidence that the circuit depth of our algorithm is polynomial in N for all eigenstates, despite the models being interacting.
Abstract We establish the most general class of spin- integrable Richardson–Gaudin models including an arbitrary magnetic field, returning a fully anisotropic (XYZ) model. The restriction to spin- relaxes the usual integrability constraints, allowing for a general solution where the couplings between spins lack the usual antisymmetric properties of Richardson–Gaudin models. The full set of conserved charges are constructed explicitly and shown to satisfy a set of quadratic equations, allowing for the numerical treatment of a fully anisotropic central spin in an external magnetic field. While this approach does not provide expressions for the exact eigenstates, it allows their eigenvalues to be obtained, and expectation values of local observables can then be calculated from the Hellmann–Feynman theorem.
Abstract In this work we construct the eigenstates of the most general spin-1/2 Richardson–Gaudin model integrable in an external magnetic field. This includes the possibility for fully anisotropic XYZ coupling such that the S i x S j x , S i y S j y and S i z S j z terms all have distinct coupling strengths. While insuring that integrability is maintained in the presence of an external field excludes the elliptic XYZ model which is only integrable at zero field, this work still covers a wide class of fully anisotropic (XYZ) models associated with non skew-symmetric r -matrices. The eigenstates, as constructed here, do not require any usable Bethe ansatz and therefore: no proper pseudo-vacuum, Bethe roots, or generalised spin raising (Gaudin) operators have to be defined. Indeed, the eigenstates are generically built only through the conserved charges which define the model of interest and the specification of the set of eigenvalues defining the particular eigenstate. Since these eigenvalues are, in general, solutions to a simple set of quadratic equations, the proposed approach is simpler to implement than any Bethe ansatz and, moreover, it remains completely identical independently of the symmetries of the model. Indeed, the construction removes any distinction between XYZ models and XXZ/XXX models and, generically, that between models with or without U (1) symmetry so that any difficulties associated with the use of a Bethe ansatz in any of these cases are avoided.