Abstract In this paper we investigate the integrability properties of a two-state vertex model on the square lattice whose microstates at a vertex always have an odd number of incoming or outcoming arrows. This model was named the odd eight-vertex model by Wu and Kunz (2004 J. Stat. Phys . 116 67) to distinguish it from the well-known eight-vertex model possessing an even number of arrow orientations at each vertex. When the energy weights are invariant under arrow inversion we show that the integrable manifold of the odd eight-vertex model coincides with that of the even eight-vertex model. The form of the -matrix for the odd eight-vertex model is however not the same as that of the respective Lax operator. Altogether we find that these eight-vertex models give rise to a generic sheaf of -matrices satisfying the Yang–Baxter equations resembling intertwiner relations associated to equidimensional representations.
We consider a vertex model on the simple-quartic lattice defined by line graphs on the lattice for which there is always an odd number of lines incident at a vertex. This is the odd 8-vertex model which has eight possible vertex configurations. We establish that the odd 8-vertex model is equivalent to a staggered 8-vertex model. Using this equivalence we deduce the solution of the odd 8-vertex model when the weights satisfy a free-fermion condition. It is found that the freefermion model exhibits no phase transitions in the regime of positive vertex weights. We also establish the complete equivalence of the free-fermion odd 8-vertex model with the free-fermion 8-vertex model solved by Fan and Wu. Our analysis leads to several Ising model representations of the free-fermion model with pure 2-spin interactions. Key words: Odd eight-vertex model, free-fermion model, exact solution. 1 2 1