The term Bethe Ansatz stands for a multitude of methods in the theory of integrable models in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory that were designed to study the spectra, the thermodynamic properties and the correlation functions of these models non-perturbatively. This essay attempts to a give a brief overview of some of these methods and their development, mostly based on the example of the Heisenberg model and the corresponding six-vertex model.
The term Bethe Ansatz stands for a multitude of methods in the theory of integrable models in statistical mechanics and quantum field theory that were designed to study the spectra, the thermodynamic properties and the correlation functions of these models non-perturbatively. This essay attempts to a give a brief overview of some of these methods and their development, mostly based on the example of the Heisenberg model and the corresponding six-vertex model.
The algebraic Bethe ansatz is one of the main approaches to solving integrable models in statistical mechanics. This thesis is a detailed introduction to aspects of this technique. In chapter 1, following Takhtajan1, we fully explain all preliminaries that are required by this technique in the context of the 8-vertex model, including the solution of the Yang-Baxter equations in terms of Boltzmann weights that are parameterized by elliptic function. In chapter 2, also following Takhtajan, we restrict our attention to the special case of the 6-vertex model, with Boltzmann weights parameterized by hyperbolic trigonometric functions, formulate the model in detail on a finite lattice with periodic boundary conditions, and show how the algebraic Bethe ansatz can be used to characterize the eigenvectors and eigenvalues, in the homogeneous case (all vertical rapidities are equal, and all horizontal rapidities are also equal). In chapter 3, following Bogoliubov et al2, we consider the 6-vertex model in inhomogeneous case (all rapidities are now independenti variables) but with domain wall boundary conditions. Using the algebraic Bethe ansatz, and Izergin’s result for the partition function, we calculate boundary 1-point functions of the six-vertex model on a finite lattice and represent them in determinant form. Takhatajan, L. J. Introduction to Agebraic Bethe Ansatz, Lecture Notes in Physics, Exactly solvable problems in condensed matter and relativistic field theory 2 Boundary correlation functions of the six-vertex model J. Phys. A: Math. Gen. 35, 5525-5541 (2002)
The Bethe Ansatz is a method that is used in quantum integrable models in order to solve them explicitly. This method is explained here in a general framework, which applies to 1D quantum spin chains, 2D statistical lattice models (vertex models) and relativistic field theories with 1 space dimension and 1 time dimension. The connection with quantum groups is expounded. Several applications are then presented. Finite size corrections are calculated via two methods: The Non-Linear Integral Equations, which are applied to the study of the states of the affine Toda model with imaginary coupling, and their interpolation between the high energy (ultra-violet) and low energy (infra-red) regions; and the Thermodynamic Bethe Ansatz Equations, along with the associated Fusion Equations, which are used to determine the thermodynamic properties of the generalized multi-channel Kondo model. The latter is then studied in more detail, still using the Bethe Ansatz and quantum groups, so as to characterize the spectrum of the low energy excitations.
Abstract We give a pedagogical introduction to the thermodynamic Bethe ansatz, a method that allows us to describe the thermodynamics of integrable models whose spectrum is found via the (asymptotic) Bethe ansatz. We set the stage by deriving the Fermi–Dirac distribution and associated free energy of free electrons, and then in a similar though technically more complicated fashion treat the thermodynamics of integrable models, focusing first on the one-dimensional Bose gas with delta function interaction as a clean pedagogical example, secondly the XXX spin chain as an elementary (lattice) model with prototypical complicating features in the form of bound states, and finally the SU ( 2 ) chiral Gross–Neveu model as a field theory example. Throughout this discussion we emphasize the central role of particle and hole densities, whose relations determine the model under consideration. We then discuss tricks that allow us to use the same methods to describe the exact spectra of integrable field theories on a circle, in particular the chiral Gross–Neveu model. We moreover discuss the simplification of TBA equations to Y systems, including the transition back to integral equations given sufficient analyticity data, in simple examples.
A very curious situation arises in the context of the calculation of the partition function from the spectrum of an integrable Hamiltonian. Despite the validity of the Bethe ansatz equations for all energy eigenvalues of the model the direct evaluation of the partition function is rather difficult. In contrast to ideal quantum gases the eigenstates are not explicitly known: the Bethe ansatz equations provide just implicit descriptions that pose problems of their own kind. Yet, knowing the behaviour of quantum chains at finite temperatures is important for many reasons. As a matter of fact, the groundstate is strictly inaccessible due to the very fundamentals of thermodynamics. Therefore the study of finite temperatures is relevant for theoretical as well as experimental reasons. At high temperatures, quantum systems show only trivial static properties without correlations. Lowering the temperature, the systems enter a large regime with non-universal correlations and finally approach the quantum critical point at exactly zero temperature showing universal, non-trivial properties with divergent correlation lengths governed by conformal field theory [51]. In Chapter 5 of this book we have discussed the traditional Thermodynamical Bethe Ansatz (TBA) as developed for the Heisenberg model and the Hubbard model [155, 433–435] on the basis of a method [496] invented for the Bose gas.
A method of solution of a number of quantum field theory and statistical mechanics models in two space-time dimensions is presented in this Part. This method was first suggested by H. Bethe in 1931 and is traditionally called the Bethe Ansatz. Later on the method was developed by Hulthen, Yang and Yang, Lieb, Sutherland, Baxter, Gaudin and others (see, and). We begin the presentation with the coordinate Bethe Ansatz not only due to historical reasons but also because of its simplicity and clarity. The multi-particle scattering matrix appears to be equal to the product of two-particle matrices for integrable models. This property of two-particle reducibility is of primary importance when constructing the Bethe wave function. The important feature of integrable models is that there is no mass-shell multiple particle production. This property is closely connected to the existence of an infinite number of conservation laws in such models; this will be clear from Part II. Four main models, namely the one-dimensional Bose gas, the Heisenberg magnet, the massive Thirring model and the Hubbard model, are considered in Part I. Eigenfunctions of the Hamiltonians of these models are constructed. Imposing periodic boundary conditions leads to a system of equations for the permitted values of momenta. These are known as the Bethe equations. This system can also be derived from a certain variational principle, the corresponding action being called the Yang-Yang action.