Finding Exponential Product Formulas of Higher Orders

In the present article, we review a continual effort on generalization of the Trotter formula to higher-order exponential product formulas. The exponential product formula is a good and useful approximant, particularly because it conserves important symmetries of the system dynamics. We focuse on two algorithms of constructing higher-order exponential product formulas. The first is the fractal decomposition, where we construct higher-order formulas recursively. The second is to make use of the quantum analysis, where we compute higher-order correction terms directly. As interludes, we also have described the decomposition of symplectic integrators, the approximation of time-ordered exponentials, and the perturbational composition.Comment: 22 pages, 9 figures. To be published in the conference proceedings ''Quantum Annealing and Other Optimization Methods," eds. B.K.Chakrabarti and A.Das (Springer, Heidelberg

Extrapolation-CAM Theory for Critical Exponents

By intentionally underestimating the rate of convergence of exact-diagonalization values for the mass or energy gaps of finite systems, we form families of sequences of gap estimates. The gap estimates cross zero with generically nonzero linear terms in their Taylor expansions, so that $\nu = 1$ for each member of these sequences of estimates. Thus, the Coherent Anomaly Method can be used to determine $\nu$. Our freedom in deciding exactly how to underestimate the convergence allows us to choose the sequence that displays the clearest coherent anomaly. We demonstrate this approach on the two-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model, for which $\nu = 1$. We also use it on the three-dimensional ferromagnetic Ising model, finding $\nu \approx 0.629$, in good agreement with other estimates.Comment: 21 pages, Submitted to Journal of Physics A; new section added discussing rate of convergence and relation to Finite-Size Scalin

Factorizing the time evolution operator

There is a widespread belief in the quantum physical community, and in textbooks used to teach Quantum Mechanics, that it is a difficult task to apply the time evolution operator Exp{-itH/h} on an initial wave function. That is to say, because the hamiltonian operator generally is the sum of two operators, then it is a difficult task to apply the time evolution operator on an initial wave function f(x,0), for it implies to apply terms operators like (a+b)^n. A possible solution of this problem is to factorize the time evolution operator and then apply successively the individual exponential operator on the initial wave function. However, the exponential operator does not directly factorize, i. e. Exp{a+b} is not equal to Exp{a}Exp{b}. In this work we present a useful procedure for factorizing the time evolution operator when the argument of the exponential is a sum of two operators, which obey specific commutation relations. Then, we apply the exponential operator as an evolution operator for the case of elementary unidimensional potentials, like the particle subject to a constant force and the harmonic oscillator. Also, we argue about an apparent paradox concerning the time evolution operator and non-spreading wave packets addressed previously in the literature.Comment: 24 pages; added references; one figure change

Quantum Annealing and Analog Quantum Computation

We review here the recent success in quantum annealing, i.e., optimization of the cost or energy functions of complex systems utilizing quantum fluctuations. The concept is introduced in successive steps through the studies of mapping of such computationally hard problems to the classical spin glass problems. The quantum spin glass problems arise with the introduction of quantum fluctuations, and the annealing behavior of the systems as these fluctuations are reduced slowly to zero. This provides a general framework for realizing analog quantum computation.Comment: 22 pages, 7 figs (color online); new References Added. Reviews of Modern Physics (in press

Hidden Order and Dimerization Transition in S=2S=2 Chains

We study ground state properties of the $S=2$ quantum antiferromagnetic chain with a bond alternation H = \sum_{j} [ 1 + \delta (-1)^j ] \mbox{\boldmath $S$}_{j} \cdot \mbox{\boldmath $S$}_{j+1} by a Quantum Monte Carlo calculation. We find that the hidden $Z_2 \times Z_2$ symmetry is broken for $0.3 < |\delta| < 0.5$ while it is unbroken in the other regions. This confirms the successive dimerization transitions first predicted by Affleck and Haldane. Our result shows that these transitions can be understood in terms of the hidden $Z_2 \times Z_2$ symmetry breaking, as was discussed using the Valence-Bond-Solid states. Furthermore, we find that the behavior of the generalized string correlation is qualitatively very similar to that in the Valence-Bond-Solid states, including the location of zeroes as a function of the angle parameter.Comment: 3 pages (LaTex with jpsj-style files (ftp://ftp.u-tokyo.ac.jp/pub/SOCIETY/JPSJ)) and 1 Postscript figur

Recent Developments of World-Line Monte Carlo Methods

World-line quantum Monte Carlo methods are reviewed with an emphasis on breakthroughs made in recent years. In particular, three algorithms -- the loop algorithm, the worm algorithm, and the directed-loop algorithm -- for updating world-line configurations are presented in a unified perspective. Detailed descriptions of the algorithms in specific cases are also given.Comment: To appear in Journal of Physical Society of Japa

Accessing the dynamics of large many-particle systems using Stochastic Series Expansion

The Stochastic Series Expansion method (SSE) is a Quantum Monte Carlo (QMC) technique working directly in the imaginary time continuum and thus avoiding "Trotter discretization" errors. Using a non-local "operator-loop update" it allows treating large quantum mechanical systems of many thousand sites. In this paper we first give a comprehensive review on SSE and present benchmark calculations of SSE's scaling behavior with system size and inverse temperature, and compare it to the loop algorithm, whose scaling is known to be one of the best of all QMC methods. Finally we introduce a new and efficient algorithm to measure Green's functions and thus dynamical properties within SSE.Comment: 11 RevTeX pages including 7 figures and 5 table