Simulation of two-dimensional quantum systems using a tree tensor network: entropic area law at work
Luca Tagliacozzo, Glen Evenbly, Guifré Vidal
Abstract
This work explores the use of a tree tensor network ansatz to simulate the ground state of a local Hamiltonian on a two-dimensional lattice. By exploiting the entropic area law, the tree tensor network ansatz seems to produce quasi-exact results in systems with sizes well beyond the reach of exact diagonalization techniques. We describe an optimization algorithm to accurately approximate ground states and apply it to the quantum Ising model on a torus of L X L sites for L= {4,6,8}. Approximate results for larger lattices are also obtained. As an application of the approach, we analyse the scaling of the ground state entropy at the quantum critical point of the model and confirm the presence of a logarithmic additive correction to the entropic area law.