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arXiv:2510.20901 · Physical review. B./Physical review. B

Generic Mott transition in the sine-Gordon model through an embedded worm algorithm

Oscar Bouverot-Dupuis, Laura Foini, Alberto Rosso

Published Jan 27, 2026• 0 citations
arXivHTMLPDF

Abstract

The generic Mott transition in one-dimensional quantum systems can be described by the sine-Gordon model with a tilt via bosonization. Because the configuration space of the sine-Gordon model separates into distinct topological sectors, standard local Monte Carlo schemes are limited to very small system sizes. To overcome this limitation, we introduce the smooth worm (SmoWo) Monte Carlo algorithm which enlarges the configuration space to allow smooth transitions between topological sectors. The method combines worm updates with event-chain Monte Carlo moves. We explicitly prove its validity and quantify its performance. Thanks to the substantial acceleration achieved by the SmoWo algorithm, we are able to simulate large system sizes, providing a precise picture of the different phases and critical behaviour of the sine-Gordon model.

DOI
10.1103/4k6t-lnzp

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The generic Mott transition in one-dimensional quantum systems can be described by the sine-Gordon model with a tilt via bosonization. Because the configuration space of the sine-Gordon model separates into distinct topological sectors, standard local Monte Carlo schemes are limited to very small system sizes. To overcome this limitation, we introduce the smooth worm (SmoWo) Monte Carlo algorithm which enlarges the configuration space to allow smooth transitions between topological sectors. The method combines worm updates with event-chain Monte Carlo moves. We explicitly prove its validity and quantify its performance. Thanks to the substantial acceleration achieved by the SmoWo algorithm, we are able to simulate large system sizes, providing a precise picture of the different phases and critical behaviour of the sine-Gordon model.
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We show that high-temperature expansions provide a basis for the novel approach to efficient Monte Carlo simulations. "Worm" algorithms utilize the idea of updating closed-path configurations (produced by high-temperature expansions) through the motion of end points of a disconnected path. An amazing result is that local, Metropolis-type schemes using this approach appear to have dynamical critical exponents close to zero (i.e., their efficiency is comparable to the best cluster methods) as proved by finite-size scaling of the autocorrelation time for various universality classes.
We present a new approach to path integral Monte Carlo (PIMC) simulations based on the worm algorithm, originally developed for lattice models and extended here to continuous-space many-body systems. The scheme allows for efficient computation of thermodynamic properties, including winding numbers and off-diagonal correlations, for systems of much greater size than that accessible to conventional PIMC simulations. As an illustrative application of the method, we simulate the superfluid transition of 4He in two dimensions.
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