In this work, we develop a new technique for the numerical study of quantum field theory. The procedure, borrowed from non-relativistic quantum mechanics, is that of finding the eigenvalues of a finite Hamiltonian matrix. The matrix is created by evaluating the matrix elements of the Hamiltonian operator on a finite basis of states. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the finite dimensional matrix become an accurate approximation to those of the physical system as the finite basis of states is extended to become more complete. We study a model of scalars coupled to fermions in 0+1 dimensions as a simple field theory to consider in the course of developing the technique. We find in the course of studying this model a change of basis which diagonalizes the Hamiltonian in the large coupling limit. The importance of this transformation is that it can be generalized to higher dimensional field theories involving a trilinear coupling between a Bose and a Fermi field. Having developed the numerical and analytical techniques, we consider a Fermi field coupled to a Bose field in 1+1 dimensions with the Yukawa coupling λΨΨΨ. We extend the large coupling limit basis of the 0+1 dimensional model to this case using a Bogoliubov transformation on the fermions. Although we do not use this basis in the numerical work due to its complexity, it provides a handle on the behavior of the system in the large coupling limit. In this model we consider the effects of renormalization and the generation of bound states.
In this work, we develop a new technique for the numerical study of quantum field theory. The procedure, borrowed from non-relativistic quantum mechanics, is that of finding the eigenvalues of a finite Hamiltonian matrix. The matrix is created by evaluating the matrix elements of the Hamiltonian operator on a finite basis of states. The eigenvalues and eigenvectors of the finite dimensional matrix become an accurate approximation to those of the physical system as the finite basis of states is extended to become more complete. We study a model of scalars coupled to fermions in 0+1 dimensions as a simple field theory to consider in the course of developing the technique. We find in the course of studying this model a change of basis which diagonalizes the Hamiltonian in the large coupling limit. The importance of this transformation is that it can be generalized to higher dimensional field theories involving a trilinear coupling between a Bose and a Fermi field. Having developed the numerical and analytical techniques, we consider a Fermi field coupled to a Bose field in 1+1 dimensions with the Yukawa coupling λΨΨΨ. We extend the large coupling limit basis of the 0+1 dimensional model to this case using a Bogoliubov transformation on the fermions. Although we do not use this basis in the numerical work due to its complexity, it provides a handle on the behavior of the system in the large coupling limit. In this model we consider the effects of renormalization and the generation of bound states.
A bstract We describe a new exact lattice bosonization of matrix quantum mechanics (equivalently of non-relativistic fermions) that is valid for arbitrary rank N of the matrix. It is based on the exact operator bosonization of non-relativistic fermions introduced earlier in [1]. The trace identities, which characterize finite rank matrices, are automatically incorporated in the bosonic theory. The finite number N of fermions is reflected in the finite number N of bosonic annihilation-creation operators, and equivalently to the finite number N of lattice points. The fermion Hamiltonian is exactly mappable to a bosonic Hamiltonian. At large N , the latter becomes local and corresponds to the lattice version of a relativistic boson Hamiltonian, with a lattice spacing of order 1/ N . The finite lattice spacing leads to a finite entanglement entropy (EE) of the bosonic theory, which reproduces the finite EE of the fermionic theory. Such a description is not available in the standard bosonization in terms of fermion density fluctuations on the Fermi surface, which does not have a built-in short distance cut-off (see, however, a recent description of the finiteness of the fermionic EE in a collective field theory formalism [2]). The bosonic lattice constructed in our work is equipped with a geometry that is determined by the matrix potential or equivalently by the shape of the Fermi surface. Our bosonization also works in the double scaled c = 1 matrix model; in particular the bosonic EE again turns out to be finite, with the short distance cut-off turning into g s l s , and reproduces the matrix result. Once again, this is to be contrasted with the conventional dual 2D string theory, where the bosonic EE is naturally identified with that of the “tachyon”, the massless string mode, where one may imagine the short-distance cut-off to be the string length l s . This appears to indicate our bosonization as a different dual description to the c = 1 matrix model appropriate for “local physics” like quantum entanglement, by contrast with the conventional duality to the eigenvalue density which works well for asymptotic observables like S-matrices. We briefly discuss possible relation of our bosonization to D0 branes.
Several issues in the modal approach to quantum field theory are discussed. Within the formalism of spherical field theory, differential renormalization is presented and shown to result in a finite number of renormalization parameters. Computations of the massless Thirring model in 1+1 dimensions are presented using this approach. Diagonalization techniques in periodic field theory are demonstrated. Issues of very large Hilbert spaces are considered and several approaches are presented. The quasi sparse eigenvector (QSE) approach takes advantage of the relatively small number of basis states that typically contribute significantly to any particular eigenvector. Stochastic correction methods use Monte Carlo calculations to calculate higher order corrections to the quasi sparse result. The quasi sparse eigenvector method and stochastic error correction are applied to the Hubbard model. With U/t=4, the shift in the ground energy below the U=0 value is found to within 1% for the 8x8 Hubbard model with 25/64 filling.
Due to rapidly improving quantum computing hardware, Hamiltonian simulations of relativistic lattice field theories have seen a resurgence of attention. This computational tool requires turning the formally infinite-dimensional Hilbert space of the full theory into a finite-dimensional one. For gauge theories, a widely-used basis for the Hilbert space relies on the representations induced by the underlying gauge group, with a truncation that keeps only a set of the lowest dimensional representations. This works well at large bare gauge coupling, but becomes less efficient at small coupling, which is required for the continuum limit of the lattice theory. In this work, we develop a new basis suitable for the simulation of an SU(2) lattice gauge theory in the maximal tree gauge. In particular, we show how to perform a Hamiltonian truncation so that the eigenvalues of both the magnetic and electric gauge-fixed Hamiltonian are mostly preserved, which allows for this basis to be used at all values of the coupling. Little prior knowledge is assumed, so this may also be used as an introduction to the subject of Hamiltonian formulations of lattice gauge theories.
Due to rapidly improving quantum computing hardware, Hamiltonian simulations of relativistic lattice field theories have seen a resurgence of attention. This computational tool requires turning the formally infinite-dimensional Hilbert space of the full theory into a finite-dimensional one. For gauge theories, a widely used basis for the Hilbert space relies on the representations induced by the underlying gauge group, with a truncation that keeps only a set of the lowest dimensional representations. This works well at large bare gauge coupling, but becomes less efficient at small coupling, which is required for the continuum limit of the lattice theory. In this work, we develop a new basis suitable for the simulation of an SU(2) lattice gauge theory in the maximal tree gauge. In particular, we show how to perform a Hamiltonian truncation so that the eigenvalues of both the magnetic and electric gauge-fixed Hamiltonian are mostly preserved, which allows for this basis to be used at all values of the coupling. Little prior knowledge is assumed, so this may also be used as an introduction to the subject of Hamiltonian formulations of lattice gauge theories. Published by the American Physical Society 2024
We review two important non-perturbative approaches for extracting the physics of low-dimensional strongly correlated quantum systems. Firstly, we start by providing a comprehensive review of non-Abelian bosonization. This includes an introduction to the basic elements of conformal field theory as applied to systems with a current algebra, and we orient the reader by presenting a number of applications of non-Abelian bosonization to models with large symmetries. We then tie this technique into recent advances in the ability of cold atomic systems to realize complex symmetries. Secondly, we discuss truncated spectrum methods for the numerical study of systems in one and two dimensions. For one-dimensional systems we provide the reader with considerable insight into the methodology by reviewing canonical applications of the technique to the Ising model (and its variants) and the sine-Gordon model. Following this we review recent work on the development of renormalization groups, both numerical and analytical, that alleviate the effects of truncating the spectrum. Using these technologies, we consider a number of applications to one-dimensional systems: properties of carbon nanotubes, quenches in the Lieb-Liniger model, 1 + 1D quantum chromodynamics, as well as Landau-Ginzburg theories. In the final part we move our attention to consider truncated spectrum methods applied to two-dimensional systems. This involves combining truncated spectrum methods with matrix product state algorithms. We describe applications of this method to two-dimensional systems of free fermions and the quantum Ising model, including their non-equilibrium dynamics.
In this thesis, we will show how certain classes of quantum many-body Hamiltonians with su21oplussu22oplusldotsoplussu2k spectrum generating algebras can be approximated by multi-dimensional shifted harmonic oscillator Hamiltonians. The dimensions of the Hilbert spaces of such Hamiltonians usually depend exponentially on k. This can make obtaining eigenvalues by diagonalization computationally challenging. The Shifted Harmonic Approximation (SHA) developed here gives good predictions of properties such as ground state energies, excitation energies and the most probable states in the lowest eigenstates. This is achieved by solving only a system of k equations and diagonalizing ktimesk matrices. The SHA gives accurate approximations over wide domains of parameters and in many cases even across phase transitions.\n\nThe SHA is first illustrated using the Lipkin-Meshkov-Glick (LMG) model and the Canonical Josephson Hamiltonian (CJH) which have su2 spectrum generating algebras. Next, we extend the technique to the non-compact su1,1 algebra, using the five-dimensional quartic oscillator (5DQO) as an example. Finally, the SHA is applied to a k-level Bardeen-Cooper-Shrieffer (BCS) pairing Hamiltonian with fixed particle number. The BCS model has a su21oplussu22oplusldotsoplussu2k spectrum generating algebra.\n\nAn attractive feature of the SHA is that it also provides information to construct basis states which yield very accurate eigenvalues for low-lying states by diagonalizing Hamiltonians in small subspaces of huge Hilbert spaces. For Hamiltonians that involve a smaller number of operators, accurate eigenvalues can be obtained using another technique developed in this thesis: the generalized Rowe-Rosensteel-Kerman-Klein equations-of-motion method (RRKK). The RRKK is illustrated using the LMG and the 5DQO. In RRKK, solving unknowns in a set of 10times10 matrices typically gives estimates of the lowest few eigenvalues to an accuracy of at least eight significant figures. The RRKK involves optimization routines which require initial guesses of the matrix representations of the operators. In many cases, very good initial guesses can be obtained using the SHA. \n\nThe thesis concludes by exploring possible future developments of the SHA.