New and Old Real-Space Renormalization Group Methods for Quantum Lattice Hamiltonians

Miguel Angel Martin-Delgado

Colin J. Morningstar, Marvin Weinstein

The contractor renormalization group method, a new approach to solving Hamiltonian lattice systems, is presented. The method defines a systematic and nonperturbative means of implementing Kadanoff-Wilson real-space renormalization group transformations using cluster expansion and contraction techniques. We illustrate the approach and demonstrate its effectiveness using scalar field theory, the Heisenberg antiferromagnetic chain, and the anisotropic Ising chain. Future applications to the Hubbard and $t\ensuremath{-}J$ models and lattice gauge theory are discussed.

Steve T Paik

Abstract We revisit Fradkin and Raby’s real-space renormalization-group method to study the quantum Z 2 gauge theory defined on links forming a two-dimensional square lattice. Following an old suggestion of theirs, a systematic perturbation expansion developed by Hirsch and Mazenko is used to improve the algorithm to second order in an intercell coupling, thereby incorporating the effects of discarded higher energy states. A careful derivation of gauge-invariant effective operators is presented in the Hamiltonian formalism. Renormalization group equations are analyzed near the nontrivial fixed point, reaffirming old work by Hirsch on the dual transverse field Ising model. In addition to recovering Hirsch’s previous findings, critical exponents for the scaling of the spatial correlation length and energy gap in the electric free (deconfined) phase are compared. Unfortunately, their agreement is poor. The leading singular behavior of the ground state energy density is examined near the critical point: we compute both a critical exponent and estimate a critical amplitude ratio.

Li-Xiang Cen

Colin J. Morningstar, Marvin Weinstein

The contractor renormalization group (CORE) method, a new approach to solving Hamiltonian lattice systems, is introduced. The method combines contraction and variational techniques with the real-space renormalization group approach. It applies to lattice systems of infinite extent and is ideal for studying phase structure and critical phenomena. The CORE approximation is systematically improvable and can treat systems with dynamical fermions. The method is tested using the (1+1)-dimensional Ising model.

Rémi Jullien, K. A. Penson, Pierre M. Pfeuty +1 more